Kimberley Regiment
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The Kimberley Regiment is an 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.
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[edit] History
The regiment's origins lie in the early, lawless, diamond rush days in Kimberley in the 1870s. To bring law and order to the region, which was then known as Griqualand West, the government encouraged the formation of part-time volunteer forces. Among them were the Kimberley Light Horse and the Du Toitspan Hussars, both formed in 1876, which amalgamated in 1877 to form the Diamond Fields Horse. Volunteers from the DFH served in the 9th Frontier War in 1877, in operations in Griqualand West in 1878, and in the Basutoland Gun War in 1880 and 1881.
Kimberley later raised two more units, the Victoria Rifles of Kimberley in 1887, and the Kimberley Scots in 1890. They amalgamated in 1890 to form the Kimberley Rifles. Both the DFH and the Kimberley Rifles served in the 1896-1897 Bechuanaland campaign. In 1899, the two units amalgamated to form the Kimberley Regiment.
During the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902, the Kim R helped to defend the city during the four-month-long siege.
On 1 July 1913 the Regiment was embodied in the Citizen Force of the Union Defence Forces, as the 7th Infantry (Kimberley Regiment).
During World War I, it fought in the German South West Africa campaign in 1915, and provided volunteers for service overseas.
The title reverted to Kimberley Regiment in 1932.
During World War II, the Kim R fought in Italy in 1944 and 1945.
The regiment served in the Border War in the 1970s and 1980s.
[edit] Regimental Symbols
[edit] Alliances
[edit] Battle honours
- Gaika-Gcaleka 1877 - 1878
- Griqualand West 1878
- Basutoland 1880 - 1881
- Transkei 1880 - 1881
- Bechuanaland 1896 - 1897
- Defence of Kimberley
- South Africa 1899 - 1902
- South West Africa 1914 - 1915
- Italy 1944 - 1945
- Casino II
- Celleno
- Florence
- The Greve
- Gothic Line
- Monte Porro del Bagno
- Monte Vigese
- Monte Salvaro
- Po Valley
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