Regiment Dan Pienaar


Regiment Dan Pienaar was an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

History

Origins

Regiment Dan Pienaar was initially formed as 2 Regiment Bloemspruit as an offshoot of Regiment Bloemspruit.

Renamed

Subsequently, it was decided to rename 2RBS after the famous World War II general and Free Stater, General Dan Pienaar on 1 June 1976, thus the unit could begin to form its own history and traditions.

Disbanded/Amalgamated

After being disbanded in 1997 the remaining members were incorporated into Regiment Bloemspruit. The part-time units, Regiments De Wet, Louw Wepener and Dan Pienaar were amalgamated with Regiment Bloemspruit by 1 April. The name Regiment Bloemspruit was retained under the command of the Commanding General, Free State Command."

Battle honours

The unit also served in numerous deployments in the Border War in SWA/Namibia

Freedom of the City

Freedom of the city of Bloemfontein in 1981

Roll of Honour

Regiment Dan Pienaar has one Honoris Crux on the Roll of Honour: Delport J C Rfn. 13 September 1978.
Here is his citation:

General references

  • Pollock, A.M.. "Pienaar of Alamein". 1943. Cape Times. The biography of Major-General Dan Pienaar, a South African officer on the battle fields of Abyssinia and Egypt.
  • Malherbe, E.G. Never a Dull Moment. Reminiscences of his distinguished career as an educationalist, Director of Census & Statistics, as well as Director of Military Intelligence for SA during World War II. Reveals some intimate views of Generals Smuts, Dan Pienaar, Alexander, Evered Poole, and Klopper etc. Timmins. Cape Town 1981.