Regiment de la Rey
Encyclopedia
Regiment de la Rey is an infantry
battalion
of the South African Army
. As a reserve force unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British
Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard
unit.
language Citizen Force
units of the Union Defence Force
.
The regimental badge depicts a lion's head, in memory of Boer
General
JH de la Rey, the 'Lion of the West' after whom the regiment is named.
Before the Second World War, battalion headquarters were at Rustenburg in the Transvaal
. The unit had company
headquarters
at Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp
, with a support company
at Brits
.
Mrs J E Morkel, daughter of General De la Rey, became the first honorary colonel
of the regiment.
The regiment was affiliated to the Northamptonshire Regiment
of the British Army
.
, Lt-Col (later Brig) H P van Noorden, was by then commanding a battalion of the Field Force Brigade, command of the regiment passed to Lt-Col WD Basson.
The regiment was amalgamated with the Witwatersrand Rifles
. After training in Egypt
, the new unit, Wits-delaRey (WR/DLR) made a name for itself as one of the motorised infantry
battalions of the 12th Motorised Brigade in the 6th South African Armoured Division in Italy in 1944-45.
For almost the entire Italian campaign
RDLR was commanded by Lt-Col Jack Bester, until he was appointed to command the newly formed 13th Motorised Brigade.
The regiment distinguished itself particularly in taking Allerona
on 15 June 1944, in fighting on Monte Querciabella and Monte Fili, and in forcing the River Greve in July 1944.
WR/DLR were the first on Monte Stanco in the Apennines in October 1944 and scored a spectacular success in the final offensive
in Italy when they took Monte Caprara on 16 April 1945.
The unit's casualties were among the heaviest in the division
. During the Italian campaign 119 soldiers were killed, 576 wounded and 17 were posted missing in action
.
On 1 January 1960 the regiment was renamed Regiment Wes-Transvaal with headquarters at Potchefstroom. After objections and strenuous efforts it resumed its original designation as Regiment De la Rey on 1 September 1966.
_mdv_cloete_mc.jpg)
Captain MDV Cloete, nicknamed Doempie, was a pastor in the Dutch Reformed Church
who served as regimental chaplain
from February 1943 until the end of the war. He was a talented rugby player with a most devastating tackle, an enthusiastic hockey
player and, on route marches, would outperform many of the tough infantrymen.
In June 1944, the chaplain captured two German soldiers who had been deliberately left behind near the village of Allerona
to harass officers of the Allied High Command
. Upon discovering their hidden position behind some bushes to the side of a road, Doempie pushed the bush aside and shouted to the two men in Afrikaans: Kom uit kêrels – die oorlog is op 'n einde ('Come out, guys – the war is over'). They heeded his instructions and surrendered. The only ‘weapon' the chaplain had with him was his short officer's cane
.
After World War II, he remained in the Union Defence Force and served as chaplain in various units. From November 1950 to December 1953, he accompanied 2 Squadron SAAF
, 'The Flying Cheetahs', to Korea
which was South Africa's contribution to the United Nations
war effort.
In 1960, the Minister of Justice and the Commissioner of Police determined that there was a need for a well organised Chaplain Corps in the South African Police
(SAP). Cloete was appointed Chaplain-General with the rank of colonel to establish the Corps.
He retired from the South African Police in February 1975 with the rank of major-general.
On his retirement, he was the most highly decorated member of the SAP. In addition to the ‘usual’ 1939-1945 campaign medals
, he had also been awarded the Military Cross
, the Korean Order of Military Merit, 'Ulchi'
, the American Bronze Star and numerous SAP medals and decorations.
, also known as the Namibian War of Independence
, the conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa (now Namibia
) and Angola
between South Africa and its allied forces (mainly UNITA
) and the Angolan government, South-West Africa People's Organisation
(SWAPO), and their allies the Soviet Union and Cuba
.
Operation Hooper
, in which the main participants were Permanent Force
and National Service
members, officially ended on 13 March 1988. A Citizen Force call up provided fresh troops into the SADF-UNITA force which had been tasked to drive FAPLA forces from Cuito Cuanavale
. This injection of fresh troops allowed Operation Hooper to move seamlessly into Operation Packer
. The objective of the operation was to drive the combined FAPLA/Cuba
n force back across the Cuito River to the west bank.
The primary assault force which was to ‘drive the enemy’ out of Tumpo consisted of 13 Olifant tanks with crews from Regiment President Steyn
, a squadron of Ratel
90's from Regiment Mooirivier
(RMR), a mechanised infantry battalion from Regiment de la Rey and from Regiment Great Karoo, three companies from 32 Battalion, three UNITA
regular battalions and two semi-regular UNITA battalions plus a number of other components.
Force.
1 RDLR took part in the 50th anniversary parade of Regiment Mooirivier
in Potchefstroom on 23 July 2004.
2 SA Infantry Battalion, situated in Zeerust, deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) from October 2005 to May 2006. A full company of 1 Regiment De La Rey (1RDLR) deployed with them. one mortar platoon 1RDLR - KMDT BOET SCHOEMAN
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a 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 force unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Territorial Army or United States 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.
Formation
The Regiment de la Rey was established in 1934 as one of the new AfrikaansAfrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
language Citizen Force
Citizen Force
The Citizen Force was the name of the general military reserve force of several British Commonwealth countries.-Australian:Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and,...
units of the Union Defence Force
Union Defence Force
The Union Defence Force may refer to a former or current military organization:* the South African Army from 1912 to 1957* the military of the United Arab Emirates...
.
The regimental badge depicts a lion's head, in memory of Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
JH de la Rey, the 'Lion of the West' after whom the regiment is named.
Before the Second World War, battalion headquarters were at Rustenburg in the Transvaal
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
. The unit had company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
at Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp
Ventersdorp, North West
Ventersdorp is a town situated in North West Province of South Africa.The town's population is just 2,000 while the nearby township of Tshing has a population of around 15,000.-History:...
, with a support company
Combat Support Company
A Combat Support Company is a company-echelon unit which provides combat service support to a battalion. Combat Service Support tasks are to man, arm, fuel, fix, and move the force...
at Brits
Brits, North West
Brits is a large town and district situated in a fertile, citrus, vegetable and grain-producing area that is irrigated by the waters of the Hartbeespoort Dam in North West Province of South Africa. It is close to the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, which includes Pretoria and...
.
Mrs J E Morkel, daughter of General De la Rey, became the first honorary colonel
Colonel (UK)
Colonel is a rank of the British forces, ranking below Brigadier, and above Lieutenant Colonel. British Colonels are not usually field commanders; typically they serve as staff officers between field commands at battalion and brigade level. The insignia is two diamond shaped pips below a crown...
of the regiment.
The regiment was affiliated to the Northamptonshire Regiment
Northamptonshire Regiment
The Northamptonshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1960. Its lineage is now continued by The Royal Anglian Regiment.-Formation:The regiment was formed as part of the reorganisation of the infantry by the Childers reforms...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
World War II
RDLR was called up for full-time service on 18 July 1940. Because the commanding officerCommanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
, Lt-Col (later Brig) H P van Noorden, was by then commanding a battalion of the Field Force Brigade, command of the regiment passed to Lt-Col WD Basson.
Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
The Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment is a mechanized infantry 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.-History:...
. After training in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, the new unit, Wits-delaRey (WR/DLR) made a name for itself as one of the motorised infantry
Motorised infantry
In NATO and most other western countries, motorised infantry is infantry which is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers, infantry combat vehicles, or infantry fighting vehicles...
battalions of the 12th Motorised Brigade in the 6th South African Armoured Division in Italy in 1944-45.
For almost the entire Italian campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
RDLR was commanded by Lt-Col Jack Bester, until he was appointed to command the newly formed 13th Motorised Brigade.
The regiment distinguished itself particularly in taking Allerona
Allerona
Allerona is a comune in the Province of Terni in the Italian region Umbria, located about 50 km southwest of Perugia and about 60 km northwest of Terni....
on 15 June 1944, in fighting on Monte Querciabella and Monte Fili, and in forcing the River Greve in July 1944.
WR/DLR were the first on Monte Stanco in the Apennines in October 1944 and scored a spectacular success in the final offensive
Offensive (military)
An offensive is a military operation that seeks through aggressive projection of armed force to occupy territory, gain an objective or achieve some larger strategic, operational or tactical goal...
in Italy when they took Monte Caprara on 16 April 1945.
The unit's casualties were among the heaviest in the division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
. During the Italian campaign 119 soldiers were killed, 576 wounded and 17 were posted missing in action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
.
On 1 January 1960 the regiment was renamed Regiment Wes-Transvaal with headquarters at Potchefstroom. After objections and strenuous efforts it resumed its original designation as Regiment De la Rey on 1 September 1966.
Captain 'Doempie' Cloete: A regimental legend
Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk
The Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk is a Reformed Christian denomination in South Africa. It also has a presence in neighboring countries, such as Namibia, Swaziland, and parts of Botswana and Zimbabwe...
who served as regimental chaplain
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
from February 1943 until the end of the war. He was a talented rugby player with a most devastating tackle, an enthusiastic hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player and, on route marches, would outperform many of the tough infantrymen.
In June 1944, the chaplain captured two German soldiers who had been deliberately left behind near the village of Allerona
Allerona
Allerona is a comune in the Province of Terni in the Italian region Umbria, located about 50 km southwest of Perugia and about 60 km northwest of Terni....
to harass officers of the Allied High Command
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. Upon discovering their hidden position behind some bushes to the side of a road, Doempie pushed the bush aside and shouted to the two men in Afrikaans: Kom uit kêrels – die oorlog is op 'n einde ('Come out, guys – the war is over'). They heeded his instructions and surrendered. The only ‘weapon' the chaplain had with him was his short officer's cane
Swagger stick
A swagger stick is a short stick or riding crop usually carried by a uniformed person as a symbol of authority. A swagger stick is shorter than a staff or cane, and is usually made from rattan.-History:...
.
After World War II, he remained in the Union Defence Force and served as chaplain in various units. From November 1950 to December 1953, he accompanied 2 Squadron SAAF
2 Squadron SAAF
-Background:2 Squadron is currently the premier squadron in the South African Air Force, and has a long history, having been involved in every single combat action in which the SAAF has taken part...
, 'The Flying Cheetahs', to Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
which was South Africa's contribution to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
war effort.
In 1960, the Minister of Justice and the Commissioner of Police determined that there was a need for a well organised Chaplain Corps in the South African Police
South African Police
The South African Police was the country's police force until 1994. The SAP traced its origin to the Dutch Watch, a paramilitary organization formed by settlers in the Cape in 1655, initially to protect civilians against attack and later to maintain law and order...
(SAP). Cloete was appointed Chaplain-General with the rank of colonel to establish the Corps.
He retired from the South African Police in February 1975 with the rank of major-general.
On his retirement, he was the most highly decorated member of the SAP. In addition to the ‘usual’ 1939-1945 campaign medals
British campaign medals
British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns...
, he had also been awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, the Korean Order of Military Merit, 'Ulchi'
Order of Military Merit (Korea)
The Order of Military Merit is the primary military decoration awarded by the government of Republic of Korea.-Classes of the Order:The order is divided into five classes:Notable recipients...
, the American Bronze Star and numerous SAP medals and decorations.
The Border War
The regiment participated in the South African Border WarSouth African Border War
The South African Border War, commonly referred to as the Angolan Bush War in South Africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa and Angola between South Africa and its allied forces on the one side and the Angolan government, South-West Africa People's...
, also known as the Namibian War of Independence
Namibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
, the conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa (now Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
) and Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
between South Africa and its allied forces (mainly UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
) and the Angolan government, South-West Africa People's Organisation
South-West Africa People's Organisation
The South West Africa People's Organization is a political party and former liberation movement in Namibia. It has been the governing party in Namibia since achieving independence in 1990...
(SWAPO), and their allies the Soviet Union and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Operation Packer
Operation Hooper
Operation Hooper was a military operation by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War. This operation forms part of what has come to be called the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale....
, in which the main participants were Permanent Force
Permanent Force
The Permanent Force was an integral part of both the South African Defence Force and the South West Africa Territorial Force and other British Commonwealth militaries. It consisted of all the full time volunteers, volunteers of auxiliaries and national servicemen....
and National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
members, officially ended on 13 March 1988. A Citizen Force call up provided fresh troops into the SADF-UNITA force which had been tasked to drive FAPLA forces from Cuito Cuanavale
Cuito Cuanavale
Cuito Cuanavale is a town and municipality in Cuando Cubango province in Angola. The names Kuito Kuanavale or Kwito Kwanavale are sometimes used, although this is a mutation of the original Portuguese name....
. This injection of fresh troops allowed Operation Hooper to move seamlessly into Operation Packer
Operation Packer
Operation Packer was a military operation by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War. This operation forms part of what became known as the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale....
. The objective of the operation was to drive the combined FAPLA/Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n force back across the Cuito River to the west bank.
The primary assault force which was to ‘drive the enemy’ out of Tumpo consisted of 13 Olifant tanks with crews from Regiment President Steyn
Regiment President Steyn
Regiment President Steyn is an armoured 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...
, a squadron of Ratel
Ratel IFV
The Ratel is the basic Infantry Fighting Vehicle of the South African National Defence Force's mechanized infantry battalions. Ratel is the Afrikaans name for the honey badger, which has a reputation as a ferocious fighter.-History:...
90's from Regiment Mooirivier
Regiment Mooirivier
Regiment Mooirivier is an armoured 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...
(RMR), a mechanised infantry battalion from Regiment de la Rey and from Regiment Great Karoo, three companies from 32 Battalion, three UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
regular battalions and two semi-regular UNITA battalions plus a number of other components.
Post-1994
The regiment is one of only six mechanised units in the SANDF ReserveMilitary reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
Force.
1 RDLR took part in the 50th anniversary parade of Regiment Mooirivier
Regiment Mooirivier
Regiment Mooirivier is an armoured 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 Potchefstroom on 23 July 2004.
2 SA Infantry Battalion, situated in Zeerust, deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(DRC) from October 2005 to May 2006. A full company of 1 Regiment De La Rey (1RDLR) deployed with them. one mortar platoon 1RDLR - KMDT BOET SCHOEMAN
Battle honours
- Italy 1944-45
- Cassino II
- Allerona
- Florence
- Monte Querciabella
- Monte Fili
- The Greve
- Gothic Line
- Monte Stanco
- Monte Salvaro
- Sole/Caprara
- Po Valley
- Campo Santo Bridge