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43-580: The original regiment had a fragmented history: A new unit, called the Cape Town Volunteer Engineers was formed in the Cape Colonial Forces in 1879. It served in the Transkei campaign in 1880 and 1881. In 1889, it added a coast artillery company, and the title was later changed to Garrison Artillery & Engineer Volunteer Corps . Engineering was discontinued in 1896, and the title

86-581: A 2005 revival initiative, the regiment now has become active in key initiatives such as Force Preparation, Force Support and Force Training, which are some of the current main focus areas of the South African National Defence Force. The regiment is housed in Fort Wynyard . In December 2005, the regiment began an unofficial initiative to save the Fort from further decay. In 2012 the sinking of

129-904: A few mobile units, which were placed under British Army command. In December 1901, the CDF was merged with the Colonial Forces, which were renamed the Cape Colonial Forces (CCF). The war ended in British victory in 1902. From 1903, the Cape Colonial Forces consisted of the Defence Department under a commandant-general, the Cape Mounted Riflemen , and the Volunteer Force. The post-war commandants-general were Maj Gen Sir Edward Brabant (1903–1904) and Col Henry Lukin (1904–1912). Most of

172-579: A handful of units were left, in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth . Although the economy recovered after diamonds were discovered in Griqualand West in 1869, the Volunteer Force remained dormant. A degree of independence from Britain was achieved in 1872, when the Cape Colony attained " Responsible government " under the leadership of its first Prime Minister, John Molteno . The new administration encouraged

215-583: A result of the threat posed by Japan. Among the new units that were formed were 50 Anti-Aircraft Battery at Saldanha Bay, 51 Anti-Aircraft Battery in Cape Town, and 52 Anti-Aircraft Battery in Simon's Town. These units were controlled by the South African Air Force until 1949, when they were transferred to the Army. In 1951, the anti-aircraft units were transferred to the new South African Corps of Marines. When

258-603: Is named after António de Saldanha , captain of a vessel in Albuquerque's fleet which visited South Africa in 1503. The name was first given to Table Bay , where Saldanha's ship cast anchor. On Table Bay being given its present name in 1601, the older appellation was transferred to the bay now called after Saldanha. In 1781 a British squadron under Commodore George Johnstone seized six Dutch East Indiamen , which, fearing an attack on Cape Town, had taken refuge in Saldanha Bay. This

301-650: The Cape Town Volunteer Engineers (later Cape Garrison Artillery ) (1879–1958); and the Griqualand West units that were taken over when that province was annexed to the colony in 1880 and later amalgamated to form the Kimberley Regiment . The Frontier Armed and Mounted Police , and burgher and volunteer units fought the Xhosa in the Transkei and the Ciskei in the 9th Frontier War (1877–1878). After

344-600: The First City of Grahamstown Volunteers (1875– ); and the Buffalo Corps of Rifle Volunteers (later the Kaffrarian Rifles ) (1876– ), and Grahamstown Volunteer Horse Artillery (1876–1895). The neighbouring British-ruled province of Griqualand West also raised a small volunteer force. The Cape Colony Government was also of the opinion that small, highly mobile, mounted commandos , recruited from local people (such as

387-733: The Anglo-Zulu War (1879), volunteer units were called up to man the garrisons in the Transkei and elsewhere. In the Basuto Gun War (1880–1881), Colonial Forces units were deployed in Basutoland , which was under Cape administration at that time, to enforce a law which prohibited the Basuto from owning firearms. In the concurrent Transkei Campaign, Colonial Forces were deployed against the Mpondomise in

430-715: The Cape Mounted Police fight off the 'Ferreira Raid', a small armed incursion from German South-West Africa . In 1907, a defence plan was prepared in case of a full-scale German invasion. When the Cape Colony became a province of the new Union of South Africa in 1910, the CCF were placed under the new defence ministry in Pretoria . They were disbanded when the Union Defence Forces (UDF) were formed in 1912, and in 1913 most of

473-571: The Cape Town Volunteer Engineers converted into the Cape Garrison Artillery . In 1893, the small country units were grouped together as the Western Rifles . Command of the Colonial Forces was divided in 1892, between a Colonial Military Secretary (Col Philip Homan-ffoliiott) who controlled the CMR and the headquarters staffs, and a Commandant of Volunteers (Col Richard Southey ), in charge of

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516-851: The SS Mendi was commemorated at the University of Cape Town , with a memorial service hosted by the Cape Garrison Artillery. The regiment became part of the South African Army Air Defence Artillery Formation which was formed in 1999. In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. The Cape Garrison Artillery became the Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment , and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia. In 1905,

559-510: The South African Military Academy . The SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve offers a display of wildflowers during late winter and spring while southern right whales also visit the waters in and around the nature reserve. The area has a Mediterranean climate but the annual rainfall is quite low; it verges on the desert region of Namaqualand . The port developed into a modern harbour only recently, when it became necessary to facilitate

602-823: The Union Buildings in Pretoria . From 1916 until the war ended, the CGA as such manned the Cape Peninsula defences. Between the two world wars, the CGA was closely linked with the South African Permanent Garrison Artillery. The approach of World War II led to the expansion of the South African military and in 1934 the Cape Garrison Artillery became 1 Heavy Battery (CGA) (in Cape Town) and 2 Heavy Battery (CGA) (in Simon's Town). They formed part of

645-629: The white farmers , Mfengu and Khoi who lived in the border regions) were best suited to the more irregular warfare in the mountainous frontier. For all but the largest conflicts, such mounted gunmen with their local knowledge were thought preferable to the long, slow and cumbersome columns of British Imperial troops . The Cape forces were deployed in six of the nine wars and campaigns that were fought in South Africa between 1877 and 1881. Dozens of volunteer units were formed, but most disbanded once hostilities were over. Those that continued included

688-690: The British Empire – including the Cape Colony and Natal – and the Boer republics in the Orange Free State and Transvaal . Boer forces invaded the Cape in 1899 and besieged Mafeking and Kimberley . The Cape government mobilised the Colonial Forces to guard railways and other lines of communication, while the British Army struggled to relieve the besieged towns. Later, units were assigned to British formations in

731-537: The CCF units were incorporated into the UDF. The remainder were disbanded. Saldanha Bay Saldanha Bay ( Afrikaans : Saldanhabaai ) is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa . The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha , was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of

774-817: The CGA served with the Heavy Artillery Brigade in the German South-West Africa Campaign in 1915. On the successful conclusion of the South-West Africa Campaign, many members of the CGA joined the Heavy Artillery Brigade of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force , which served with great distinction in France and was later commemorated by the South African Heavy Artillery memorial below

817-777: The CGA were also involved in the attack on Jacobsdal on 25 October 1900. During 1901 detachments of the regiment were often stationed alongside the Cape Town Highlanders as well as other local troops in the west of Cape Colony and other areas, up to the German South-West Africa border. Other actions that elements of the CHA were involved in during the war were: Brugspruit (October 1900), Wonderfontein (February 1901), Naauwpoort (February 1901), Mafeking (November 1901), Omkyk (January 1902), Okiep (April 1902) and Daspoort near Pretoria (May 1902). On 30 June 1902

860-564: The Coast Artillery Brigade (later called the Cape Peninsula Artillery Brigade). A 5th Heavy Battery (CGA) was formed in 1938/39 to man the new batteries on Robben Island . The batteries were mobilised on the outbreak of World War II in 1939, and manned the Cape coast defences throughout the war. An 8th Heavy Battery (CGA) was formed at Saldanha Bay in 1942. No South African port was actually attacked during

903-504: The Regiment had 373 members, but the figure increased to 560 (with some recruits arriving from overseas) by February 1900. During 1900 the CGA was mainly used on the main western railway line of Cape Colony, as well as west of that line, assisting in garrisoning important posts. A small number of CGA members were also under the command of Sir Charles Warren in Griqualand West . Parts of the regiment also joined Kitchener's Horse. Elements of

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946-450: The SACM was disbanded in 1955, 50, 51 and 52 Anti-Aircraft Batteries were amalgamated to form 4 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment . In 1960, 4 HAA was affiliated to the University of Cape Town under a new system designed to enable students to co-ordinate their studies and their military training. The regiment was renamed University of Cape Town Regiment . Although the "university regiment" system

989-610: The Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore project (connected by the Sishen-Saldanha Railway Line ) at which Saldanha Steel takes center stage. Saldanha Bay is located about 105 kilometres (65 mi) north west of Cape Town . It faces southwest and is 11 km long and 12 km wide. The Langebaan Lagoon, a SE prolongation of the bay, extends for 14 km southeastwards from the SE corner of the inner bay by Langebaan. Saldanha Bay

1032-461: The Transkei. Under government direction, the Colonial Forces grew and became more professional during the 1880s and 1890s. Maj Gen Charles 'Chinese' Gordon was briefly commandant-general in 1882. He was succeeded by Col Zachary Bayly (1882–1892). Compulsory registration of men for the Burgher Force ended in 1884, effectively disbanding the force. Fears of a British war with Russia stimulated

1075-650: The field, and one was detailed to escort Boer prisoners of war to Saint Helena and Ceylon . For a few months in 1900, a Colonial Division, consisting of the Cape Mounted Riflemen and several volunteer units under Brig Gen Edward Brabant , served with the British forces in the Orange Free State. In January 1901, after a second Boer incursion, the government formed the Colonial Defence Force (CDF), under Brig Gen Brabant. It consisted of dozens of town guards and district mounted troops, for local defence, and

1118-746: The formation of more than a dozen volunteer units, including the Cape Town Highlanders (1885– )and the Cape Town Irish Volunteer Rifles (1885–1891), the Kimberley Volunteers (1887–1890), the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps (later Cape Medical Corps ) (1889– ), the Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles (1892–1913), and several small units in country towns. The Cape Town coast defences were upgraded, and

1161-670: The government to call up the burgher and volunteer forces for service outside their home districts. Collectively, the CMR, the CMY, the burghers, and the volunteers, were referred to as the "Colonial Forces". In the Northern Border Rebellion (1878), Colonial Forces were deployed against the Koranna in the districts along the Orange River . While British regiments were away in Zululand during

1204-598: The government's disposal. About three dozen volunteer units were formed between 1855 and 1861. They included: In 1858, the FAMP was mobilised to restore order in the Transkei, after a wave of cattle-killing and crop-destruction by the Xhosa , following a prophecy that this would make the Whites disappear. The Volunteer Force collapsed in the early 1860s, during an economic recession which made part-time soldiering unaffordable. By 1867, only

1247-440: The municipality is estimated at 72,000. The place is mentioned in the first edition of John Locke 's Two Treatises of Government as an example of the state of nature. Saldanha Bay's location makes it a paradise for the watersport enthusiast, and its local economy being strongly dependent on fishing, mussels, seafood processing, the steel industry and the harbour. Furthermore, its sheltered harbour plays an important part in

1290-539: The official defence organisation of the Cape Colony in South Africa. Established in 1855, they were taken over by the Union of South Africa in 1910, and disbanded when the Union Defence Forces were formed in 1912. The colonial forces were established after Britain granted the Cape Colony "representative government" in 1853. The colony was encouraged to assume some of the responsibility for its own defence, and in 1855 three separate military organisations were formed: The FAMP

1333-1024: The original CGA was presented by a King's Colour in recognition of its service in the Anglo-Boer War. The Unit saw service in the Transkei in 1880 during the Basutoland Rebellion In 1927, the original CGA was awarded the battle honour "South West Africa 1915" for its service in the German South-West Africa Campaign. The unit assembled in 1940 for service in Abyssinia, the Middle East and Italy and consisted of two heavy battery's and an anti aircraft battery. The unit also saw service in early 1976 and took part in Operation Askari in 1984. 11 Field Postal Unit Cape Colonial Forces The Cape Colonial Forces (CCF) were

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1376-404: The part-time forces. In 1896, the volunteer units in Griqualand West were formed into the Griqualand West Brigade , and the field and garrison artillery were combined to form the Cape Artillery . In 1897, the Colonial Forces were deployed in the Bechuanaland Campaign in the northern Cape, to apprehend three fugitive Tswana chiefs. From 1899 to 1902, South Africa was ravaged by a war between

1419-417: The pre-war volunteer units continued, but none of the wartime units was retained. A few new units were formed, including the Cape Peninsula Rifles (1903–1926), and the Cape Naval Volunteers (1905–2005). King Edward VII recognised the CCF's wartime service by granting its units King's Colours in 1904. Imperial Germany became the new threat to British interests, and the CMR was mobilised in 1906 to help

1462-450: The revival of the local Cape forces, and especially the Volunteer Force. The administration foresaw unrest across the border in the Transkei and, in the case of a war with the Xhosa , it hoped to minimise British Imperial interference by resolving any conflicts locally. The volunteer revival was particularly marked in the eastern districts closest to the frontier, where more than two dozen units were formed between 1875 and 1877. They included

1505-411: The scanty herbage." He suggested that it was an uneventful area to visit, except for a few areas in the Bay where whales resided during his visit. Saldanha Bay is also home to numerous fish canneries. The most notable of these is the Saldanha Bay Canning Company, founded by James Kasner and Ellis Silverman in 1905. With strong historic military links Saldanha is also host to a Naval training base and

1548-487: The unit was demobilised, although it continued as a part-time volunteer unit. In 1904 Princess Christian presented the unit with a Kings Colour in Cape Town. The CGA was embodied in the Coast Garrison Force of the Union Defence Force in 1913 as the 1st Division, South African Garrison Artillery (CGA) . CGA manned batteries at Sea Point , Fort Wynyard and the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town as well as at "Noah's Ark" and other batteries at Simon's Town . Members of

1591-427: The war, in 1878, the government organised the military forces into a single organisation, under a Defence Department headed by a commandant-general. The first two commandants-general were Col Samuel Jarvis (1878–1880) and Brig Gen Charles Mansfield Clarke (1880–1881). The FAMP were fully militarised and renamed the Cape Mounted Riflemen (CMR), with the Cape Mounted Yeomanry as an auxiliary. Legislation authorised

1634-419: The war; the only instance of a shot being fired in anger was when the Portuguese frigate Alfonse d'Albuquerque did not respond to signals when she passed a shore station. However, one round brought her to, and she was identified. Many troops of the CGA were released for service in North Africa and Italy . In 1951, the Cape Garrison Artillery batteries were renamed "coast regiments". 5th Heavy Battery

1677-564: Was disbanded, but 1 Coast Regiment (CGA) , 2 Coast Regiment (CGA) and 8 Coast Regiment (CGA) were transferred to the newly formed South African Corps of Marines , which was directed by the Navy. The SACM also controlled anti-aircraft units, and when the SACM disbanded in 1955, the anti-aircraft units were transferred to the Army, and the coast regiments were taken over by the Navy. The three CGA units were renamed SAS Ubique , SAS Diaz , and SAS Malgas . They were disbanded in 1958. South African home defences were strengthened during 1942, as

1720-423: Was discontinued when national service conscription was introduced in 1968, UCTR retained its name until 1974, when it was allowed to adopt the name of the former Cape Garrison Artillery . The CGA served in the Border War in the 1970s and 1980s under the command of 7 South African Infantry Division . Since the end of conscription in 1993, it has been a volunteer unit again, as part of the Reserve Force . Since

1763-400: Was responsible for maintaining law and order in the districts along the frontier with the Xhosa territories in the Transkei . The Burgher Force was a district-based militia, whose units could be mobilised when necessary to maintain order in their home districts. The Volunteer Force was also district-based, but consisted of privately formed and self-financed units which placed their services at

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1806-399: Was the only achievement, so far as South Africa was concerned, of the expedition despatched to seize Cape Town during the war of 1781–1783 . Diplomat Edmund Roberts visited the Bay in 1833. He noted that it was "well sheltered from violent winds, having a sufficient depth of water, but the country is very sandy and agriculture but little attended to; a few cattle and sheep are raised among

1849-411: Was then changed to Cape Garrison Artillery . The commanding officer of the unit at that time was Major le Vicomte de Montfort. The Regiment had an authorised strength of 320 men and was trained by the Royal Garrison Artillery. In 1898 the CGA was changed to a partially paid unit and thus lost its volunteer status. The CGA was mobilized for participation in the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1899. Initially

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