|
|
| Authors
and Contributors this page:
T.F.
Mills |
|
|
|
Page
created 24 November 2002. Corrected and updated
12.07.2004
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The South African Irish Regiment
|
| cap badge,
1940-45 |
South
Africa
|
|
| |
|
|
Note:
This
is a battalion history of the part-time Reserves, which are normally
liable for full-time active service only in an emergency
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1914.09.09 |
South African
Irish
raised at Johannesburg in Active Citizen Force
of Union Defence Force |
|
1915.08 |
disbanded |
|
|
|
1939.11 |
South African
Irish Regiment
re-formed at Johannesburg |
|
1941.11 |
disbanded
due to heavy casualties (some personnel to 11
Bty, 4 SA Field Regt SAA) |
|
|
|
1946.04 |
22 Field Regiment,
SAA (South African Irish)
re-formed in Citizen Force |
|
1960.01 |
The South African
Irish Regiment
converted to infantry |
|
1987 |
converted
to mechanised infantry |
|
1991 |
converted
back to motorised infantry |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[1st Battalion] Deployment
and Service |
| |
| Colour Key: |
War service
|
Overseas service
|
Home service
|
|
|
1914.09.09 |
raised
at Johannesburg |
|
| |
1914.12.21 |
at
sea (embarked at Cape Town) |
|
| |
1914.12.25 |
SW
Africa: Walvis Bay |
|
| |
1914.12 |
SW
Africa |
4
SA Inf Bde |
| |
1915.08 |
disbanded
to form composite 9 SAI Bn with other units in East
Africa |
| |
|
|
|
| |
1939.11 |
re-formed
at Johannesburg |
|
| |
1940.07 |
at
sea (embarked at Durban) |
|
| |
1940.07 |
Kenya:
Kilindini |
5
SA Inf Bde |
| |
1941.02 |
Abyssinia |
5
SA Inf Bde |
| |
|
Kenya |
|
| |
1941.04..18 |
at
sea (embarked at Mombasa) |
|
| |
1941.05.01 |
Egypt:
Suez |
|
| |
1941 |
Libya |
1
SA Div |
|
1942.02 |
disbanded
due to heavy casualties at Sidi Rezegh |
|
|
|
|
| |
1976-88 |
Angola
& SW Africa |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
2nd Battalion Deployment
and Service |
|
1939.12 |
raised
at Johannesburg |
|
| |
1939.12 |
disbanded
(personnel to 1st Bn) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biography
and Gallantry Awards: |
|
 |
[no external sites have been found] |
|
|
|
|
Associations,
Forums and Re-Enactors: |
|
|
S.A.
Irish Regimental Association |
|
|
|
|
Museums,
Monuments, Memorials and Chapels: |
|
 |
[no external sites have been found] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- King's Colour presented 29 Jan. 1921 by Gov-Gen. The Duke of
Connaught, at Milner Park, Johannesburg; laid up 1921 in old St
Mary's Cathedral, Johannesburg, and subsequently lost.
- First Regimental Colour presented 23 Nov. 1968 by Pres. J.J.
Fouche.
- First National Colour presented 1991 and laid up 1994.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Badges: |
cap badge (1914):
a brass shamrock inscribed S.A.IRISH
cap badge(1940): An Irish Harp and Crown, surmounted by the
Crown, with below a scroll inscribed FAUGH A BALAGH.
cap badge(1964): the same without the crown.
collar badge (1946?): a silver shamrock |
|
Uniform: |
headdress (1914):
slouch hat or sun helmet with green shamrock cloth patch left.
headdress (1946?): dark green caubeen, with green hackle
special distinctions: knot in lanyard to commemorate the dead
of Sidi Rezegh; artillery
button on left cuff to commemorate SAA period (1946-60) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cap badge, 1964-present
|
cap badge, 1914-15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1914 |
Mrs. Louis Botha [to 1915] |
|
1945 |
Col T.W. Cullinan [to 1953] |
|
1966 |
Col W.J. Busschau [to 1976] |
|
1977 |
Col C.A. Twomey, SM, JCD [to
1978] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Motto: |
1914: Quis
Separabit?
1939: Faugh A Ballagh |
|
Nicknames: |
 |
|
Anniversaries: |
|
|
Freedoms: |
Johannesburg (Nov.
1966); Barberton (Mar. 1979) |
|
Marches: |
South Down Militia
+ The Wearing' of the Green |
|
|
[unofficial]:
Killaloe |
|
Musicians: |
Pipers and drummers
wear saffron kilts |
|
|
|
Mascot: |
Irish terrier (1939-?)
Irish wolfhound: "Paddy" (1946?-?) |
|
Miscellaneous
Tradition Links: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regimental
Journal: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Full Histories:
|
|
|
Monick, Stanley. Shamrock and springbok
: the Irish impact on South African military history, 1689-1914.
Johannesburg : South African Irish Regtl Assn, 1989. ISBN: 0620139838 |
|
|
Monick, Stanley; and, Baker, O.E.F. Clear
the way : the military heritage of the South African Irish, 1880-1990.
Johannesburg : South African Irish Regtl Assn, 1992. [2 vols.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
 |
| |
