The South African National Defence Force follows the British Army system of awarding battle honours to military units, to recognize the battles and campaigns in which they have fought with distinction. The following is a list of battle honours with descriptions and listing the units for each battle honour:
Battle Honours of South Africa
- Name: South West Africa 1915
South West Africa 1914âÂÂ1915
- Name: Bechuanaland 1896âÂÂ97
South Africa 1899âÂÂ1902
- Name: South Africa 1899âÂÂ1902
Western Desert 1941âÂÂ43
- Name: Western Desert 1941âÂÂ43
Gazala
Alem Hamza
Best Post
Alamein Defence
Alamein Box
El Alamein
Italy 1944âÂÂ45
Casino II
Chiusi
Florence
The Greve
Gothic Line
Monte Stanco
Monte Pezza
Sole/Caprara
Po Valley
Gaika Gcaleka 1877
Transkei 1879
- Name: Transkei 1879
- A Cape unit, which was stationed in the Transkei to release a British regiment for active service, has this, its own honour for this period
- Cape Town Rifles
Basutoland 1880âÂÂ81
Bechuanaland 1897
East Africa 1940âÂÂ41
El Wak
The Juba
Combolcia
Amba Alagi
Sidi Rezegh
South Africa 1879
Relief of Ladysmith
Natal 1906
Bardia
Point 204
Madagascar 1942
Griqualand West 1878
- Name: Griqualand West 1878
- Description: A campaign by Cape Colony forces against the Koranna on the colony's northern border (the Orange River) in 1878.
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
Transkei 1880âÂÂ81
- Name: Transkei 1880âÂÂ81
- Description: One of two concurrent campaigns by Cape Colony forces against African subjects who resisted a government police outlawing ownership of firearms. This was conducted against the Xhosa in the Transkei from October 1880 until April 1881.
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
Defence of Kimberley
- Name: Defence of Kimberley
- Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
Celleno
Monte Porro del Bagno
Monte Vigese
Monte Salvaro
Defence of Ladysmith
Gibeon
Mersa Belafarit
Dadaba
Best Post
The Tiber
Madagascar
Bagno Regio
Sarteano
La Foce
Catarelto Ridge
Transkei 1877âÂÂ78
- Name: Transkei 1877âÂÂ78
- Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika ("Gaika") and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.
- Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Guards
Umzintzani
- Name: Umzintzani
- Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika ("Gaika") and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.
- Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Guards
Allerona
Monte Querciabella
Monte Fili
Campo Santo Bridge
Kilimanjaro
- Name: Kilimanjaro
- South African Infantry Regiment, 9th (9 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 8th (8 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 6th (6 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 5th (5 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 11th (11 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 10th (10 SAI)
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- SA Horse, 3rd (3rd SAH)
- SA Field Ambulance, 5th
- SA Field Ambulance, 4th
- SA Field Ambulance, 3rd
- SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
- SA Field Ambulance, 1st
- Cape Corps
Behobeho
Nyangao
East Africa 1916âÂÂ17
East Africa 1917âÂÂ18
East Africa 1916âÂÂ18
- Name: East Africa 1916âÂÂ18
- Transvaal Scottish Regiment
- South African Infantry Regiment, 9th (9 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 8th (8 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 6th (6 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 5th (5 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 11th (11 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 10th (10 SAI)
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- SA Horse, 9th (9th SAH)
- SA Horse, 8th (8th SAH)
- SA Horse, 4th (4th SAH)
- SA Horse, 3rd (3rd SAH)
- SA Horse, 10th (10th SAH)
- SA Field Ambulance, 5th
- SA Field Ambulance, 4th
- SA Field Ambulance, 3rd
- SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
- SA Field Ambulance, 1st
- S.A. Rifles
- Cape Corps
Megiddo
Cape of Good Hope
Nablus
Palestine 1918
Mega
Yonte
Diredawa
Sollum
Alem Hamza
Acroma Keep
Egypt 1916
Somme 1916
Delville Wood
Arras
Scarpe 1917
Ypres 1917
Menin Road
Selle
Sambre
France and Flanders 1916âÂÂ18
El Mughar
Nebi Samwil
Tel Asur
Sharon
Narungombe
German East Africa 1916âÂÂ18
Halfaya
Commonwealth Keep
Tobruk
Kunene
South West Africa/Angola 1975âÂÂ1976
South West Africa/Angola 1976âÂÂ1989
Rhodesia 1967âÂÂ75
Gaza
Alem el Halfa
Paliano
Rome
The Tiber
South West Africa/Zambia 1979
Cuito Cuanaval
Mulemba/Mulola
Xangongo/Ongiva
Mavinga II
Mavinga III
Calueque
Bangui
Other
These are Battle Honours listed by units which are not in the cited source.
El Yibo
Springbok Road
Bir Temrad
Cassinga / Chetequera
Messines 1918
Hindenburg Line
Cambrai 1918
Pursuit to Mons
France and Flanders 1918
Le Transloy
Kemmel
Lys
Taieb el Essem
- Name: Taieb el Essem
- Description: The South African Units formed a component of the 1st Brigade force that held a defensive box south of Sidi Rezegh. On 24-25 November 1941, this force repelled a heavy German armoured assault.
- Royal Natal Carbineers
Qattara Track
- Name: Qattara Track
- Description: On 26-27 July 1942 a detachment of the Carbineers was involved in this subsidiary action in the Alamein defensive battles of July 1942. These series of engagements were pivotal in blunting the eastward rush of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in the wake of the fall of Tobruk in June that year.
- Royal Natal Carbineers
Bir Sciafsciuf
- Name: Bir Sciafsciuf
- Description: This minor engagement on 30 November 1941 was another episode in the Crusader offensive. A small Carbineer component was pitted against an enemy convoy in the vicinity of Sidi Rezegh.
- Royal Natal Carbineers
Wepener
Battle Honours by Unit
Cape Town Highlanders
Natal Mounted Rifles
Royal Natal Carbineers
South African Police
Transvaal Scottish Regiment
Cape Town Rifles
General de_la Rey Regiment
Notes
References
Bibliography