Natal Mounted Rifles

Natal Mounted Rifles
Active	1854–Present
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army South African Army
Type	Armour
Role	Armour / Tank and Mechanised Infantry Regiment
Size	Regiment
Part of	South African Armoured Corps Army Conventional Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Durban
Motto	Rough but Ready
Anniversaries	Regimental Birthday - 23 March each year.
Battle honours	See list
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col M.J. Rowe
Colonel of the Regiment	Lt Col M.J. Rowe
Insignia
Beret Colour	Black
Armour Squadron emblems
Armour beret bar circa 1992

The Natal Mounted Rifles is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. It is part of the South African Army Armour Formation and is based in the city of Durban.

History

Origin

The original and accepted "Parent / Unit" of the Natal Mounted Rifles is the "Royal D'Urban Rangers" which was formed at a meeting of the public in the town of Durban, at "Boltbee's Hotel" on 23 March 1854. Other ante-cedant Units that were then subsequently amalgamated into the NMR since 1854 are as follows:

1. 1854–1869: Royal D'Urban Rangers
2. 1888–1869: Victoria Mounted Rifles
3. 1875–1887: Stanger Mounted Rifles
4. 1865–1888: Alexander Mounted Rifles
5. 1878–1879: Isipingo Mounted Rifles
6. 1873–1888: Durban Mounted Rifles
7. 1884–1888: Umzimkulu Mounted Rifles

Timeline events

• 1888: Units amalgamated into a new unit known as the Natal Mounted Rifles
• 1894: The NMR was split into two units, namely the Border Mounted Rifles and the Natal Mounted Rifles
• 1913: Just prior to World War I the BMR and NMR once more amalgamated and became the 3rd Mounted Rifles (N.M.R.)
• 1925: The East Griqualanad Mounted Rifles amalgamated into the NMR
• 1932: Another name change, to the Natal Mounted Rifles
• 1940: At South Africa's entry to World War II, the NMR was re-formed into two units, namely: The 1st BN (V) N.M.R. and the 2nd BN (V) N.M.R.
• 1945: The two units amalgamated once more, into the Natal Mounted Rifles,and has remained such to this day

Formation

In May 1868 the Regimental Committee of the Durban Mounted Rifles, presided over by Captain WH Addison, held a meeting to discuss the forming of the Natal Mounted Rifles. The formation of the regiment would entail the amalgamation of four Volunteer Units; Royal D’urban Rangers (1854), Victoria Mounted Rifles (1862), Alexander Mounted Rifles (1865) and Durban Mounted Rifles(1873).

Anglo Boer War

The regiment was re-activated in Durban during February and March 1901 for service in the South African War. It was originally called the 2nd Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment but the name was soon changed to Natal Mounted Infantry. The unit was armed and equipped by the Natal Volunteer Department and horsed by the Imperial Remount Department. The first depot was at Dundee, but, on the unit changing its name, this was transferred to Newcastle.

World War II

On 1 July 1913 the Regiment was re-amalgamated with the Border Mounted Rifles, renamed the 3rd Mounted Rifles (Natal Mounted Rifles) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force of the Union Defence Force. In 1932 the Regiment's name was simplified to The Natal Mounted Rifles and in 1934 it was converted to infantry.

In addition to the campaigns in which its various constituent units fought in before the Regiment's formation, the Natal Mounted Rifles served in the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), the Zulu Rebellion (1906–1907), World War I (specifically in South-West Africa from 1914 to 1915), World War II (See 1st SA Infantry Division and South Africa's post-war internal conflicts and the South African Border War).

Post World War II

Border War

Main article: South African Border War

Regimental

Symbols

NMR Badge Plaque

Regimental mottos:

• 1888–1913: Just and frank
• 1913 – Present: Rough but ready

Alliances

• United Kingdom - affiliated 9 April 1930 to The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish)
• Glenwood Boys High School affiliated to NMR on 17 February 1936
• South African School of Armour affiliated to NMR on 21 March 1997
• Durban Metro Police Equestrian Unit affiliated to NMR on 25 March 2000
• South African Air Force No.15 (Helicopter) Squadron, Durban, affiliated to NMR

Battle honours

• South Africa 1879
• South Africa 1899-1902
  • Defence of Ladysmith
• Natal 1906
• South-West Africa 1914-1915
  • Gibeon
• East Africa 1940-1941
  • Dadaba
• Western Desert 1941-1943 (See 1st SA Infantry Division)
• Gazala
• Springbok Road
• Paliano
• Bir Temrad
  • Best Post
  • Alamein Defence
  • El Alamein
• Italy 1944-1945
  • The Tiber
  • Celleno
  • Florence
  • The Greve
  • Gothic Line
  • Po Valley
• El Yibo (The first action of the NMR in World War II 16-18 January 1940)
• South African Border War 1975-1976

Roll of Honour

• 1900: ASH,V.G., Tpr
• 1944: Baillie,J.P., Lt
• 1944: Bell,W.J., Pte
• 1900: CLAPHAM,WMJ, Lt
• 1945: Coetzee,A.C., Pte
• 1939-1945: Constable,J.A., Pte
• 1900: CRICKMORE,JR, Tpr
• 1942: Dovey,C., Pte
• 1900: GRICE,G.V., Tpr
• 1900: HARROP,S, Tpr
• 1900: INMAN,PE, Tpr
• 1900: PARKHILL,J, Cpl
• 1939-1945: Putterill,I.W., Pte
• 1900: SCHRAM,GH, Tpr
• 1900: THOMAS,G, Tpr

Leadership

Natal Mounted Rifles Leadership

From	Honourary Colonels	To
n.d.	unknown	Present
From	Commanding Officers	To
n.d.	Lt Col Mike Rowe	Present
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To
n.d.	MWO Bobby Freeman	Present