Pretoria Highlanders
Encyclopedia
The Pretoria Highlanders Regiment is a regiment
of the South African Army
. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States
Army National Guard
unit.
in 1939. He recruited 1,400 men within six weeks and also raised the funds to equip them with Highland
uniforms.
During World War II
the regiment, as part of 7 South African Infantry Brigade, took part in "Operation Rose", the invasion of Madagascar
by South African forces in June 1942. As far as is known, this is the first (and only) amphibious operation in which South African troops ever participated.
In 1946, the PH were converted to artillery and renamed 1 Anti-Tank Regiment (PH). When the Army was reorganised in 1960, for internal security duties, the regiment was converted to armour and reverted to its original name of Pretoria Highlanders.
Tartan: Hunting Stewart (kilt); Sporran: white with two black tails.
Hose: green with tops of regimental tartan, green garter flashes.
Nickname: "Jacaranda Jocks" (Pretoria is known as "the jacaranda city")
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the South African Army
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
unit.
History
The regiment was founded by Peter Lawrence Goudie on the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939. He recruited 1,400 men within six weeks and also raised the funds to equip them with Highland
Scottish regiment
A Scottish regiment is any regiment that at some time in its history has or had a name that referred to Scotland or some part, thereof, and adopted items of Scottish dress...
uniforms.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the regiment, as part of 7 South African Infantry Brigade, took part in "Operation Rose", the invasion of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
by South African forces in June 1942. As far as is known, this is the first (and only) amphibious operation in which South African troops ever participated.
In 1946, the PH were converted to artillery and renamed 1 Anti-Tank Regiment (PH). When the Army was reorganised in 1960, for internal security duties, the regiment was converted to armour and reverted to its original name of Pretoria Highlanders.
Regimental Symbols
Uniform: Headdress: khaki balmoral, black glengarry; Tourie (on both): bottle green.Tartan: Hunting Stewart (kilt); Sporran: white with two black tails.
Hose: green with tops of regimental tartan, green garter flashes.
Nickname: "Jacaranda Jocks" (Pretoria is known as "the jacaranda city")