Chief Albert Luthuli Regiment

Chief Albert Luthuli Regiment (formerly Regiment De Wet) is a reserve infantry battalion of the South African Army.

Regiment de Wet
Chief Albert Luthuli Regiment
Regiment de Wet emblem
CountrySouth Africa
Allegiance
Branch
SizeBattalion
Part of
Garrison/HQKroonstad
Motto(s)"Trouheid hou die wag" (Loyalty will protect us)
Insignia
AbbreviationCALR

History

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Origins

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Regiment de Wet was one of six Afrikaans-speaking Citizen Force regiments established as part of the expansion of the then Union Defence Force of South Africa.

The regiment was named after the Orange Free State Boer War commandant, Christiaan de Wet.

The regiment's headquarters was located in Kroonstad, a large town in the Orange Free State and a vital railway junction that gave some strategic importance,[1] and recruits were enlisted from the entire Orange Free State province.

World War 2

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The Regiment was used to reinforce the ranks of Regiment President Steyn during World War two, both of which were infantry units at the time.

Reorganisation

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Regiment President Steyn was converted to an armored car regiment and in 1975 to a tank regiment but Regiment de Wet remained infantry.

Incorporation

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Regiment de Wet was absorbed into Regiment Bloemspruit around April 1997.[2]

Name change

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After having been raised again; in August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa.[3] Regiment De Wet became the Chief Albert Luthuli Regiment, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.[4]

Battle honours

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

Freedom of the City

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Freedom of Kroonstad

Leadership

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{Officer Commanding: Lt Col A. M Mosehlana from 10 November 2023 to Date RSM: MWO M. G. Mokgothotso from 01 January 2021 to date}

Regimental emblems

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Dress Insignia

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SADF era Regiment De Wet insignia

Roll of Honour

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References

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  1. ^ "South African Unit Profiles". warinangola.com.
  2. ^ "Fact file: Regiment Bloemspruit". 17 June 2010.
  3. ^ "New Reserve Force unit names". defenceWeb. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Renaming process has resulted in an Army structure that truly represents SA". Independent Online. South Africa. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.