CAPE TOWN HIGHLANDERS
Image from CAPE TOWN HIGHLANDERS REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION Facebook Group
140 YEAR OF LOYAL SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY
A Short History of
THE CAPE TOWN HIGHLANDERS
The Regiment was founded on 24 April 1885 and first saw action in the Bechuanaland Campaign fought in the Northern Cape between 1896 and 1897. At the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War the Regiment or elements thereof took part in several actions, including the Relief of Kimberley.
Our volunteer-based Regiment was embodied in the Union Defence Force (UDF) Citizen Force in 1913 and very shortly became indelibly involved in World War I. We first fought in German South-West Africa, but were subsequently combined with the Transvaal Scottish Regiment to form the 4th South African Infantry (South African Scottish) Regiment, part of the 1st South African Brigade and were awarded the following Battle Honours:
Egypt 1916
Somme 1916
Delville Wood
Arras 1917
Ypres 1917
Menin Road
Le Transloy,
Scarpe 1917
Hindenburg Line
Messines 1918
Cambrai 1918
Pursuit to Mons
France and Flanders 1918
Kemmel
Lys
At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the Regiment was again mobilised and sent to Egypt in mid-1941 and later fought in all of the major battles of the Western Desert Campaign, including the Battle of El Alamein, playing a significant role in halting Rommel's advance on the tired and depleted British Eighth Army.
During the Regiment's subsequent deployment to Italy, we were temporarily combined with First City Regiment, to form the First City/Cape Town Highlanders and distinguished ourselves in often brutal action from the Battle of Monte Cassino all the way to the Alps, culminating in the heroic capture at bayonet-point of the strategic peak of Monte Sole as part of the South African 6th Armoured Division.
Later, as part of the SADF, the first significant post-war action of the Cape Town Highlanders took place in what was called the Border War in what is now Namibia, being mobilised several times, between 1976 to late 1988.
Within the current SANDF we mobilised in April 1994 as part of the South African National Defence Force’s task to ensure a peaceful first fully-democratic election.
Since then, as a leading a mechanised infantry unit, we have frequently called up members to serve in numerous internal deployments to protect the borders of our beautiful country, in support of the South African Police Service as well as on peace-keeping missions in Africa.
Our Drums and Pipes still regularly performs to much acclaim in military tattoos in Scotland, Europe, Asia and here in the Mother City.
Our regiment has two mottos. The first, Nemo Me Impune Lacessit, is in Latin and means No Man Challenges me with Impunity.
The second, Bydand, means Steadfast.
The Cape Town Highlanders has the following World War 2 battle honours on our Regimental Colours:
Bechuanaland 1896–97
South Africa 1899–190
South West Africa 1915
Gazala
Alem Hamza
Best Post
Alamein Box
Alamein Defence
Alem el Halfa
Battle of El Alamein
Western Desert 1941–43
Cassino II
Paliano
Chiusi
Florence
Gothic Line
The Greve
Monte Stanco
Monte Pezza
Alem el Halfa
Sole/Caprara
Po Valley
Italy 1944–45
THE CAPE TOWN HIGHLANDERS REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION
This is an active group of veterans who have served over the years and now work together as a close-knit team. Our primary objective is to maintain and foster the spirit of comradeship which has grown from service in this regiment and we maintain the links between past and currently serving members.
Part of our mandate is the welfare of all members of today’s serving regiment.
We also actively preserve the history of this proud Regiment.
140 YEARS - The Cape Town Highlanders
140 YEARS - The Cape Town Highlanders
Cape Town Highlanders: Battle of El Alamein Parade 2014
