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Winburg Commando
Winburg Commando
	Winburg Commando emblem in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF, 1994-)
Active	1899 - 2003
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Orange Free State Republic; Union of South Africa; Republic of South Africa; Republic of South Africa;
Branch	South African Army; South African Army;
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps; Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Winburg, Free State

Winburg Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

History

Origin

With the Orange Free State Republic

In October 1899, President Marthinus Steyn of the Orange Free State ordered his commandants to muster all able bodied burgers in anticipation of war with the British. Marthinus Prinsloo was elected as commandant of Winburg.

On 9 October 1900 he occupied positions at Platberg Mountain near Harrismith. He was subsequently elected Chief Commandant of the Free State and then Helgard Theunissen was placed in command of the Winburg Commando. Note that Boer General Koos de la Rey was born in the district of Winburg on the farm Doornfontein. A subcommando of the Winburg Commando from Senekal began operating independently. Together these and other commandos invaded the Colony of Natal in the upper Tugela region.

(Transfer to the Western Front and the Battle of Paardeberg) The Winburg Commando was withdrawn from the Natal Front on 14 February 1900 and rushed to the Kimberley area to assist General Piet Cronje.

500 Boers from Heidelberg and Winburg Commandos attacked a koppie held by the Yorkshire Regiment and East Kent Regiment. The Boer forces were using this area as an escape route. Kommandant Helgaard Theunissen with 87 Winburgers held their ground until the main Boer forces reached safety and after a few hours surrendered to the British. At least 15 Winburgers were killed in this operation.^[1]

In the Union Defence Force (UDF, 1912-1957)

By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed. By 1912, however previous Commando members could join shooting associations. By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers. These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.

In the South African Defence Force (SADF, 1957-1994)

The majority of the commandos operations in this era was local area protection.

In the South African National Defence Force (SANDF, 1994-)

Disbandment

This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.^[2]^[3] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.^[4]

Unit Insignia

Leadership

Leadership
From	Honorary Colonels	To
From	Commanding Officers	To
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To

Commandant Marthinus Prinsloo 1899
Commandant Helgard Theunissen 1899

References

^ "Kimberley City Info. Historical. Today in Kimberley's history". kimberley.org.za. 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
^ Col. L. B. van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". www.issafrica.org. Institute for Security Studies. Retrieved 5 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "About the Commando system". www.saps.gov.za. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus allafrica.com. Retrieved 5 March 2015.