Parys Commando

Parys 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.

Parys Commando
Parys Commando emblem]
Active1910-
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQParys

History

With the UDF

This unit can trace its history to before the Union of South Africa in 1910.

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.

UDF era National Reserve of Volunteers shoulder tab

With the SADF

The commando was known as the Vredefort Commando up to 1967. This then changed to the North Free State Commando and this was finally changed in 1972 to the Parys Commando.

Freedom of the City

The unit received the Freedom of Parys in October 1980. At this function emphasis was laid on the protection of the town. The military donated an old Saxton tank to the unit in February 1985.

Higher Command

The unit fell under the command of Group 24 at Kroonstad.

Responsibility

The unit was responsible for the security of the farming areas around Parys and the nearby township Tumahole.

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.[1][2] 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.[3]

Leadership

Unit Insignia
Parys Commando insignia

References
  1. Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  3. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also


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