List of South African Battle Honours

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

[South West Africa] 1915

Name: South West Africa 1915

* Southern Rifles
* Southern Rifles
* Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own
* Cape Garrison Artillery
* Cape Field Artillery

South West Africa 1914–1915

South West Africa 1914–1915 for the South West Africa campaignDescription:
* Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
* Western Province Mounted Rifles
* Umvoti Mounted Rifles
* Transvaal Scottish Regiment
* Transvaal Horse Artillery
* South African Heavy Artillery
* SA MR Field Artillery
* S.A. Police (1913–1994)
* S.A. Mounted Rifles
* South African Irish Regiment
* Royal Natal Carbineers
* Royal Durban Light Infantry
* Rand Rifles
* Rand Light Infantry
* Pretoria Regiment
* Potchefstroom Ruiters
* Noordelike Transvaal Berede Skutters
* Natal Mounted Rifles
* Natal Field Artillery
* Midlandse Skutters
* Midlandse Ruiters
* Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
* Kaffrarian Rifle Volunteers
* Imperial Light Horse
* Hartigan's Horse
* Griqualand West Ruiters
* Graaf-Reinet Ruiters
* First City Volunteers of Grahamstown
* Field Ambulance, 1st
* Cape Town Rifles
* Brand's O.V.S. Schutters
* Bechuanaland Rifles, 9th Dismounted Rifles
* Bechuanaland Rifles

[Bechuanaland] 1896–97

Name: Bechuanaland 1896–97Description: Cape military and police operations against the Batswana from December 1896 to August 1897. Most of the fighting took place in the Langberg mountains. The battle honour was: Bechuanaland 1896–97 Burgher force units which took part were granted their own honours in 1938: Betsjoeanaland 1896 ? Langberg 1897.

South Africa 1899–1902

Name: South Africa 1899–1902Description: 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

* Umvoti Mounted Rifles
* Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles
* Transkei Mounted Rifles
* Royal Natal Carbineers
* Royal Durban Light Infantry
* Queenstown Rifle Volunteers
* Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Guards
* Natal Royal Regiment
* Natal Mounted Rifles
* Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
* Kaffrarian Rifle Volunteers
* Imperial Light Horse
* First City Volunteers of Grahamstown
* Cape Town Rifles
* Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own
* Border Mounted Rifles

Western Desert 1941–43

Name: Western Desert 1941–43Description:

Gazala

Name: Gazala from the Battle of GazalaDescription: The Battle of Gazala was fought during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, west of the port of Tobruk in Libya, from 26 May to 21 June 1942. Axis troops of the Panzer Army Africa consisting of German and Italian units fought the British Eighth Army composed mainly of British Commonwealth, Indian and Free French troops.

Alem Hamza

Name: Alem HamzaDescription:

Best Post

Name: Best PostDescription:

Alamein Defence

Name: Alamein Defence for the First Battle of El AlameinDescription:

Alamein Box

Name: Alamein BoxDescription:

El Alamein

Name: El AlameinDescription: The First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought in Egypt between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa and Allied forces of the Eighth Army.

Italy 1944–45

Name: Italy 1944–45Description:

Casino II

Name: Casino IIDescription:

Chiusi

Name: ChiusiDescription:

Florence

Name: FlorenceDescription:

The Greve

Name: The GreveDescription:

Gothic Line

Name: Gothic LineDescription:

Monte Stanco

Name: Monte StancoDescription:

Monte Pezza

Name: Monte PezzaDescription:

Sole/Caprara

Name: Sole/CapraraDescription:

Po Valley

Name: Po ValleyDescription:

Gaika Gcaleka 1877

Name: Gaika Gcaleka 1877Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.

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 1880–81

Name: Basutoland 1880–81

*A campaign, conducted against the Basotho in Basutoland from September 1880 to June 1881. The Cape transferred the Basutoland protectorate to Britain in 1884. Burgher force units which served in this campaign were granted separate honours in 1938
** Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Guards
** Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
** First City Volunteers of Grahamstown
** Cape Town Rifles

Bechuanaland 1897

Name: Bechuanaland 1897Description:

East Africa 1940–41

Name: East Africa 1940–41Description:

El Wak

Name: El WakDescription:

The Juba

Name: The JubaDescription:

Combolcia

Name: CombolciaDescription:

Amba Alagi

Name: Amba AlagiDescription:

Sidi Rezegh

Name: Sidi RezeghDescription:

South Africa 1879

Name: South Africa 1879Description: British and Natal forces invaded Zululand in January 1879 and conquered it after a hard 6-month campaign. The Natal government authorised a battle honour in 1909.

Relief of Ladysmith

Name: Relief of LadysmithDescription: 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

Natal 1906

Name: Natal 1906Description: Natal operations against the Zulu and Zondi between February and August 1906. The Natal government authorised a battle honour in 1908

* Zululand Mounted Rifles
* Umvoti Mounted Rifles
* Royal Natal Carbineers
* Royal Durban Light Infantry
* Northern Districts Mounted Rifles
* Natal Royal Regiment
* Natal Mounted Rifles
* Imperial Light Horse
* Border Mounted Rifles

Bardia

Name: BardiaDescription: On 2 January 1942, Bardia was re-taken by the South African 2nd Infantry Division, led by 1st Battalion, Royal Durban Light Infantry, supported by the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment and also the South African 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade. The South Africans lost approximately 160 men, and the operation freed about 1,150 Allied prisoners of war and took some 8,500 Axis prisoners.

Point 204

Name: Point 204Description:

Madagascar 1942

Name: Madagascar 1942Description:

* First City Volunteers of Grahamstown

Griqualand West 1878

Name: Griqualand West 1878Description: A campaign by Cape Colony forces against the Koranna on the colony's northern border in 1878.

* Kimberley Volunteer Regiment

Transkei 1880–81

Name: Transkei 1880–81Description: 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 KimberleyDescription: 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

Name: Monte Porro del Bagno
* Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
* Imperial Light Horse

Monte Vigese

Monte Salvaro

Defence of Ladysmith

Name: Defence of LadysmithDescription: 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
* Royal Natal Carbineers
* Natal Mounted Rifles
* Imperial Light Horse
* Border Mounted Rifles

Gibeon

Mersa Belafarit

Name: Mersa Belafarit
* Imperial Light Horse

Dadaba

Name: Dadaba
* Natal Mounted Rifles

Best Post

Name: '''Best Post'''

The Tiber

Name: The Tiber
* Natal Mounted Rifles

Madagascar

Name: Madagascar
* Pretoria Regiment
* Pretoria Highlanders

Bagno Regio

Name: Bagno Regio
* Pretoria Regiment

Sarteano

Name: Sarteano
* Pretoria Regiment

La Foce

Name: La Foce
* Pretoria Regiment

Catarelto Ridge

Name: Catarelto Ridge
* Pretoria Regiment

Transkei 1877–78

Name: Transkei 1877–78
Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika 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 and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.
* Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Guards

Allerona

Monte Querciabella

Name: Monte Querciabella
* Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
* Regiment de la Rey

Monte Fili

Campo Santo Bridge

Name: Campo Santo Bridge
* Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
* Regiment de la Rey

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

Name: Behobeho
* South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)
* South African Infantry Regiment, 6th (6 SAI)
* South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
* Cape Corps

Nyangao

Name: Nyangao
* South African Infantry Regiment, 8th (8 SAI)
* South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)
* South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
* SA Horse, 10th (10th SAH)
* Cape Corps

East Africa 1916–17

Name: East Africa 1916–17
* Cape Corps

East Africa 1917–18

Name: East Africa 1917–18
* Cape Corps

East Africa 1916–18

Name: East Africa 1916–18
* 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

Name: Megiddo
* South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
* Cape Corps

Cape of Good Hope

Name: Cape of Good Hope
* Cape Corps

Nablus

Name: Nablus
* South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
* Cape Corps

Palestine 1918

Name: Palestine 1918
* South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
* SA Field Ambulance, 5th
* SA Field Ambulance, 4th
* SA Field Ambulance, 3rd
* SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
* SA Field Ambulance, 1st
* Cape Corps

Mega

Yonte

Name: Yonte
* Transvaal Scottish Regiment

Diredawa

Name: Diredawa
* Transvaal Scottish Regiment

Sollum

Alem Hamza

Name: Alem Hamza
* Cape Town Rifles

Acroma Keep

Name: Acroma Keep
* Transvaal Scottish Regiment

Egypt 1916

Name: Egypt 1916
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

Somme 1916

Name: Somme 1916
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

Delville Wood

Name: Delville Wood
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

Arras

Name: Arras
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

Scarpe 1917

Name: Scarpe 1917
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

Ypres 1917

Name: Ypres 1917
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

Menin Road

Name: Menin Road
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

Selle

Name: Selle
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

Sambre

Name: Sambre
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

France and Flanders 1916–18

Name: France and Flanders 1916–18
* South African Field Ambulance, 1st

El Mughar

Name: El Mughar
* SA Field Ambulance, 4th
* SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
* SA Field Ambulance, 1st

Nebi Samwil

Name: Nebi Samwil
* SA Field Ambulance, 4th
* SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
* SA Field Ambulance, 1st

Tel Asur

Name: Tel Asur
* SA Field Ambulance, 5th
* SA Field Ambulance, 4th
* SA Field Ambulance, 3rd
* SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
* SA Field Ambulance, 1st

Sharon

Name: Sharon
* SA Field Ambulance, 5th
* SA Field Ambulance, 4th
* SA Field Ambulance, 3rd
* SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
* SA Field Ambulance, 1st

Narungombe

Narungombe

* South African Infantry Regiment, 8th (8 SAI)
* South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)

German East Africa 1916–18

Name: German East Africa 1916–18
* S.A. Police (1913–1994)

Halfaya

Name: Halfaya
* S.A. Police (1913–1994)

Commonwealth Keep

Name: Commonwealth Keep
* S.A. Police (1913–1994)

Rhodesia 1967–75

Name: Rhodesia 1967–75
* S.A. Police (1913–1994)

Gaza

Name: Gaza
* SA Field Ambulance, 4th
* SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
* SA Field Ambulance, 1st

Alem el Halfa

Name: Alem el Halfa
* Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own

Paliano

Name: Paliano
* Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own

Rome

Name: '''Rome'''

The Tiber

Name: '''The Tiber'''

South West Africa/Zambia 1979

Name: South West Africa/Zambia 1979
* Kaffrarian Rifle Volunteers

Cuito Cuanaval

Name: Cuito Cuanaval
* 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group

Mulemba/Mulola

Name: Mulemba/Mulola
* 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group

Xangongo/Ongiva

Name: Xangongo/Ongiva
* 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group

Mavinga II

Name: Mavinga II
* 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group

Mavinga III

Name: Mavinga III
* 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group

Calueque

Name: Calueque
* 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group
* 8 South African Infantry Battalion

Bangui

Name: BanguiDescription: On 20 February 2014 three units were awarded battle honours to be displayed on the unit colours for their participation in the Battle of Bangui in the Central African Republic during March 2013.

* 1 Parachute Battalion
* 5 Special Forces Regiment
* 7 Medical Battalion

Other

These are Battle Honours listed by units which are not in the cited source.

El Yibo

Name: El Yibo

* Natal Mounted Rifles

Springbok Road

Name: Springbok Road

* Natal Mounted Rifles

Bir Temrad

Name: Bir Temrad

* Natal Mounted Rifles

Cassinga / Chetequera

Name: Cassinga / Chetequera

* 3 Parachute Regiment

Messines 1918

Name: Messines 1918

* Cape Town Highlanders

Hindenburg Line

Name: Hindenburg Line

* Cape Town Highlanders

Cambrai 1918

Name: Cambrai 1918

* Cape Town Highlanders

Pursuit to Mons

Name: Pursuit to Mons

* Cape Town Highlanders

France and Flanders 1918

Name: France and Flanders 1918

* Cape Town Highlanders

Le Transloy

Name: Le Transloy

* Cape Town Highlanders

Kemmel

Name: Kemmel

* Cape Town Highlanders

Lys

Name: Messines 1918

* Cape Town Highlanders

Taieb el Essem

Name: Taieb el EssemDescription: 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 TrackDescription: 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 SciafsciufDescription: 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

Name: WepenerDescription:

* Kaffrarian Rifles