Master Gunners of the South African Army

The term "Master Gunner of the Artillery" (Afrikaans: Meesterkanonnier van die artillerie) was introduced in 1982 as the overall head of the artillery. The origin[1][2]: 43  of this term, and it's particular prestige, can be found if you trace the history of the Royal Artillery's Long Gunnery Staff Courses, War time Gunnery Staff Courses (LGSC) amongst others. The crossed guns were originally called Gunnery Instructors (IG)(Officers) with other ranks known as Assistant Instructors Gunnery (AIG) from 1979–1990. In 1990 the nomenclature was reversed and the head of the artillery was henceforth called the General of the Artillery. Holders of the crossed barrels in turn became known as Master Gunners. When the first ADA officer was appointed to the post of General of the Artillery, it was changed to General of the Gunners. When General Koos Laubscher was appointed to this post in 2002, he again changed it to General of the Artillery, but when General Roy Andersen was appointed in 2006,[3] he changed it back again to General of the Gunners.[4]: 3 

The identification badge for the General of the Gunners (General of the Gunners General of the Gunners) cannot simultaneously be worn with the Artillery No. 1 badge (Artillery No 1 Artillery No 1).[5][6][a][b]

Appointment of Master Gunners

edit

The system of choosing who will be invested with this honour is a complicated one. It is as system administered and controlled by the South African Artillery Corps Council whose chairman is the GOC the Artillery Formation. The Corps Council is nowadays composed of full colonels serving within the Formation, the Formation Warrant Officer, RSMs of Regular Artillery units, The GOC, Regular Officers Commanding, Weapon Systems Managers, Directorate Army Acquisition Project Officers and the Secretary. Any other senior gunner officers, serving in common posts in the SANDF, may be co-opted if the Corps Council so desires.

When new appointments of Master Gunners are discussed, this will take place in closed session (Latin: in camera) attended solely by those already bearing the badge. No minutes of deliberations are recorded and the only thing reported by the closed session is what decisions have been taken.

Investiture of new Master Gunners is held at irregular intervals every few years. This usually occurs in Potchefstroom, the Mecca of the Artillery. At the investiture ceremony, newly minted Master Gunners are presented with a Master Gunner's tie, a Step Out badge, a Mess Dress miniature, an A3 certificate signed by either the General Officer Commanding Artillery Formation or The General of the Gunners.

Appointment to the post of General of the Gunners must be sanctioned by the Chief of the Army, even though the first appointment was signed by the Chief of the SADF and Director: Artillery in 1982.

Prior Appointments

edit

Historically, any gunner who completed the specialist Gunnery Staff Courses were automatically recognised as Master Gunners in the 1970s. The three "long gunnery courses were presented in South Africa in 1965, 1968 and 1972 and were known respectively as courses No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Any graduates of these courses automatically qualified as a Master Gunner and the authority to wear the badge.

In 1984 the then Korpsraad introduced the rules as can be seen on the badge criteria to this day. Typically it works similarly to how a merit medal is awarded, that is that someone writes up a citation, or recommendation in this case, which is then presented for consideration. The citation can be approved or disapproved without any reasons being given either way.

When the GOC is not a Master Gunner himself, the award can only be conferred by the next junior rank who is a Master Gunner.

The Nominal Roll of the recipients of the Master Gunner Badge is proudly displayed within the Headquarters building of 4 Artillery Regiment. Nominally the reason it is there rather than at the Formation Headquarters is for reasons of space. This is credited to the Commander 4 Artillery Regiment, Lt Col Victor Khasapane, and his RSM, WO1 J. Bernie van Zyl MMM.

There is a short list of people who completed the Royal Artillery's Long Gunnery Staff Courses at Larkhill in Great Britain. They are not listed in the nominal roll, but are generally acknowledged to be Master Gunners by right. This list includes Maj Gen Boet Stapelberg, Maj Gen Jan Robbertze, Maj Gen Bob Meintjies, Brigadier "Greyvie" Greyvenstein, Brigadier Leisegang, Brigadier Jack Hawtayne, Brigadier Helm Roos and Brigadier Willie Kotze.

Being invested with the Master Gunner's Badge is a coveted source of pride for all gunners within the South African Artillery fraternity.


Master Gunner
Awarding Authority: GOC SA Army Artillery Formation
Description
Dress No 1 – 3 and 5C Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Chrome (Crossed gun barrels)  
Dress No 5A Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Miniature, Chrome (Crossed gun barrels)  
Dress No 4 Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Black on Thatch beige (Crossed gun barrels)
Master Gunner Badge
(Qualification and Decoration)
 
Black on Thatch beige, Embossed
Crossed gun barrels
Criteria
  1. A serving member of the SAA at the time of the award
  2. An RSA citizen of at least seven years standing
  3. Successfully completed a long gunnery course OR qualified as indicated in the succeeding sub-subparagraphs
  4. Course qualified battery commander or Gun-group Sergeant Major (GSM)
  5. Preferably obtained a first class qualification on all his SAA courses
  6. Occupied the post of battery commander, or unit 2IC, or artillery instructor (School of Artillery, or Combat Training Centre) or GSM for at least one year
  7. His conduct, discipline and bearing must be exemplary and to the satisfaction of the Corps Council
  8. He must have a solid reputation as a capable artilleryman amongst his seniors, contemporaries and juniors
  9. It will be to his advantage to have participated in a specific operation, or to have served in an operational area for a period of at least three months
  10. He must have produced at least one artillery publication which must:
    1. Be used in the SAA as reference or training material
    2. Be an original piece of work and the result of research and study
    3. Be approved by the Corps Council

List of Master Gunners

edit
List of Master Gunners
Code Number Rank Surname First Names Post Year Note
A40 40 Captain Kotzé D.J.J. OI -
School of Artillery
1972
A49 49 Commandant Uys Piet D. 2IC -
Army College
1984
A80 80 Lt Colonel de Jager Andre S. SO1 AOT -
Artillery Formation HQ
2002
A1005 1005 Brigadier Leisegang Carl Sverre Before 1970 Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
A105 105 Lt Colonel Croft L.D. SO1 Training & Evaluation -
School of Artillery
2017
A48 48 General Viljoen Constand L. Chief South African Defence Force 1984
A24 24 Major van Wyk F.J. DS -
Army College
1971
A81 81 Lt Colonel Kruger Sarel J.F. Officer Commanding -
4 Artillery Regiment
2002
A1004 1004 Brigadier Greyvenstein Hendrik Jacobus 'Greyvie' Before 1970 Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
A3 3 Commandant van der Walt P.J. Officer Commanding -
4 Field Regiment
1972
A116 116 Major Pokolo M. SO2 Operations -
4 Artillery Regiment
2019
A88 88 Lt Colonel du Plessis P.S. SO1 Force Structure -
Artillery Formation HQ
2008
A92 92 Major le Roux E.C. SO1 Artillery Project -
DAA
2008
A36 36 Major Bouwer C.W. OI -
School of Artillery
1972
A76 76 Lt Colonel Mynhardt J.P. SO1 Ctrl -
DPSM
1999
A52 52 Unknown
A95 95 Unknown
A33 33 Captain Human A.C. Battery Commander -
Medium Battery -
School of Artillery
1972
A114 114 Major Fouché Gordon D. SO2 Artillery Project -
DAA
2019
A71 71 Colonel Schalekamp Maarten A. Director Artillery 1996
A37 37 Major van Aswegen Steve OI -
School of Artillery
1972
A1003 1003 Major General Meintjies Bob Before 1970 Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
A112 112 Lt Colonel Kemp F.F. SO1 Artillery Project -
DAA
2019
A77 77 Colonel van Dyk Phillip J. 2IC -
School of Artillery
1999
A106 106 Major Joshua E. OIRT -
School of Artillery
2017
A111 111 Lt Colonel Makhele M.S. SO1 Ext Training -
Army College
2019
A12 12 Major Veermaak M.P.H. Unknown 1970
A53 53 Commandant Bothma H.G.S. Officer Commanding -
14 Field Regiment
1984
A1007 1007 Brigadier Kotze Willie Before 1970 Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
A15 15 Major Booyse P.J.G. 2IC -
4 Field Regiment
1970
A90 90 Lt Colonel Kritzinger J.J. SO1 Artillery Project -
DAA
2008
A34 34 Captain Rheeder J.L. OI -
South African Coloured Corps -
Training Center
1972
A107 107 Lt Colonel Tshabalala M.J. 'Joe' SO1 Training and Evaluation -
School of Artillery
2019
A11 11 Captain van Rensburg J.J.J. OI -
School of Artillery
1970
A108 108 Lt Colonel Marx R. Artillery Branch Commander -
Combat Training Center
2019
A99 99 WO1 Molebatsi T.J. 2009
A51 51 Commandant de Villiers D.J. Chief Instructor -
Loc
1984
A19 19 Unknown
A1006 1006 Brigadier Hawtaynee Jack Before 1970 Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
A91 91 Lt Colonel Krugel C.T. SO1 Combat Readiness -
Artillery Formation HQ
2008
A10 10 Major van Heerden J.M. OI -
Army College
1970
A2 2 Major Nell A.A. DS -
Army Col
1970
A98 98 Unknown
A109 109 Master Warrant Officer Mokoena M.P. Regimental Sergeant Major -
4 Artillery Regiment
2019
A46 46 Unknown
A18 18 Unknown
A103 103 Colonel Maso Jongile G. Officer Commanding -
Department of Defence -
Mobilisation Center
2017
A86 86 WO1 Niemand J. Regimental Sergeant Major -
4 Artillery Regiment
2000 Awarded later on discovery of an error
A102 102 Brigadier General Makina Khaya General Officer Commanding -
Artillery Formation
2017
A101 101 WO2 Gordon C. Battery Sergeant Major -
43 Battery -
4 Artillery Regiment
2010
A85 85 WO1 Botha F.A.W. Artillery Formation -
Warrant Officer
2002
A97 97 Lt Colonel Steyn E.C.D. 2IC -
School of Artillery
2009
A83 83 Lt Colonel Schoonwinkel Dawid B.J. 2IC -
School of Artillery
2002
A47 47 WO1 Graham Robbie Unknown 1984 Unconfirmed
A87 87 Lt Colonel Cronje J.J. SO1 Training & Evaluation -
School of Artillery
2008
A1008 1008 Brigadier Roos Helm Before 1970 Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
A79 79 Brigadier General Notshweleka M.R. 'Abe' General Officer Commanding -
Artillery Formation
2002
A22 22 Major van der Westhuizen Christoffel Pierre 'Joffel' Chief Instructor Gunnery 1971
A115 115 Major Galane K. SO2 Policy & Planning -
Artillery Formation HQ
2019
A94 94 Unknown
A25 25 Major de Munnick E.O. DS -
Army College
1971
A84 84 Lt Colonel Claassen André J. Chief Instructor -
Gunnery (CIG)
2002
A44 44 Unknown
A29 29 Major Wentzel W. 'Willie' OI -
School of Artillery
1971
A9 9 Major Gravett G.W. SO2 Manpower -
GS1
1970
A64 64 Lt Colonel Phillipson Leon SO1 Personnel -
D Artillery
1995
A21 21 Unknown
A89 89 Lt Colonel Khasapane L.V. Officer Commanding -
4 Artillery Regiment
2008
A100 100 Unknown
A5 5 Major Wentzel Charles F. 'Willie' Battery Commander -
1 Medium Battery -
School of Artillery
1972
A28 28 Major Kotzé A.A. SO Research & Developmeent 1971
A61 61 Commandant Coetzee Theuns J. Chief Instructor -
Gunnery (CIG)
1990
A55 55 Colonel Lausberg J.L. Officer Commanding -
10 Artillery Brigade
1989
A68 68 Unknown
A1 1 Colonel van den Berg Frans E.C. Officer Commanding School of Artillery 1970
A20 20 Unknown
A96 96 -Spoilt Number 96 was awarded to WO1 D Moleko, but he could not attend the investituree on 8 August 2008 and in 2009 another certificate was printed for him with another number.
A72 72 Brigadier General Roux Chris H. General Officer Commanding -
Artillery Formation
2001
A59 59 Commandant Johnson I.R. SO1 Log -
10 Artillery Brigade
1989
A17 17 Unknown
A60 60 Commandant van Eeden F.J.G. SO1 Training & Evaluation -
School of Artillery
1989
A74 74 Lt Colonel van Niekerk C.J.G. CIRT 1999
A73 73 Colonel Breytenbach F.J. 1999 Resigned on 30 September 1997
A13 13 Major Holm O.S. Unknown 1970 Served at THA (Doornkop) and Sasolburg Commando (CF). Resigned from Permanent Force in 1966
A113 113 Lt Colonel Matimbe Mimi E. Officer Commanding -
4 Artillery Regiment
2019
A93 93 Major Moraka J.K. 2IC -
4 Artillery Regiment
2008
A16 16 Unknown
A1002 1002 Major General Robbertze Jan Before 1970 Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
A32 32 Captain du Plessis P.R.B. Troop Commander -
3 Loc Battery -
School of Artillery
1972
A69 69 Unknown
A67 67 Captain Crafford J. Daniel A. SO3 Artillery Project -
D Artillery
1995
A66 66 Lt Colonel Laubscher Carel C. Chief Instructor -
Gunnery (CIG)
1995
A65 65 Lt Colonel Mills Ralph Brian So1 Artillery Support Project -
D Projects
1995
A54 54 Major Cilliers J.K. SO2 Res & Data -
CD Planning
1984
A39 39 Captain Bosch Jack C.D.F. OI -
School of Artillery
1972
A70 70 Unknown
A41 41 Unknown
A8 8 Major Stempfie Hugh R. SO2 Citizen Force -
GS1
1970
A62 62 Commandant Potgieter J.W. 'Jackie' CIRT 1990
A31 31 Major Hurter Felix Marius 'Baksteen' OI -
School of Artillery
1972 Maj Hurter completed the 3rd South African Long Gunnery Course from the 5 Jun-15 Dec 1972
A4 4 Commandant Lombard Paul M. Officer Commanding School of Artillery 1970
A75 75 Lt Colonel Oelofse A.J.R. SO1 Force Structure -
Artillery Formation HQ
1999
A35 35 Major Puller D.I. Training Officer -
1 Field Regiment -
Rhodesian Artillery
1972 Rhodesian
A38 38 Major de Beer Venter P.C. 'Chris' Battery Commander -
1 Medium Battery -
4 Field Artillery
1972
A78 78 Colonel du Plessis Niek J. SSO Combat Systems -
DCW
1999
A58 58 Unknown
A30 30 Captain Laubscher J.A. 'Koos' OI -
School of Artillery
1972
A57 57 Major Franken P. 2IC -
4 Artillery Regiment
1989
A56 56 Commandant Swanepoel G.H.F. SO1 Training -
10 Artillery Brigade
1989
A82 82 Lt Colonel Jacobs J.J. SO1 Combat Readiness -
Artillery Formation HQ
2002
A27 27 Major Thomas J.E. Battery Commander -
3 Loc Battery -
School of Artillery
1971
A110 110 Major General Andersen Roy C. CD SANDF Reserves -
CSD
2019
A23 23 Major du Rand J.P. 'Jaap' Secondment to Rhodesian Artillery 1971
A50 50 Commandant Jacobs Jacobus G. 'Jakes' Chief Instructor -
Gunnery (CIG)
1984
A45 45 Unknown
A43 43 Unknown
A42 42 Unknown
A63 63 Commandant Holtzhausen H.G. 'Deon' Officer Commanding -
14 Artillery Regiment
1990
A104 104 Lt Col Botha W.M. 'Buks' SO1 Compliance -
School of Artilleery
2017
A26 26 Major van Niekerk G.J.C. 2IC -
2 South African Infantry Battalion Group
1971
A14 14 Captain Potgieter G.I. Battery Commander -
43 Battery -
School of Artillery
1970
A7 7 Commandant Bisschoff J.J. 'Koos' CISD -
Army College
1970
A1001 1001 Major General Stapelberg JJ Before 1970 Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
A6 6 Major Linford Delville SO2 Training -
Western Province Command
1970

Generals of the Artillery

edit
  • 1 April 1990 (1990-04-01) – 31 May 1992 (1992-05-31): Lt Gen FEC van den Berg SD SM MMM
  • 1 June 1992 (1992-06-01) – 2 March 1993 (1993-03-02): Maj Gen PM Lombard SM MMM
  • 3 March 1993 (1993-03-03) – 1 June 1993 (1993-06-01): Maj Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM

Generals of the Gunners

edit
  • 2 July 1993 (1993-07-02) – 31 May 1995 (1995-05-31): Maj Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM
  • 1 June 1995 (1995-06-01) – 25 June 1998 (1998-06-25): Lt Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM
  • 26 June 1998 (1998-06-26) – 25 April 2002 (2002-04-25): Maj Gen CH van Zyl SD SM MMM
  • 26 April 2002 (2002-04-26) – 31 August 2005 (2005-08-31): Maj Gen JA Laubscher SM MMM[c]
  • 1 December 2005 (2005-12-01) – 12 May 2015 (2015-05-12): Maj Gen RC Andersen CSSA SD & Bar SM MMM JCD with 30 Yr Clasp
  • 10 February 2017 (2017-02-10): Lt Gen JS Mbuli

Notes

edit
  1. ^ NSN-18–187–0476
  2. ^ Publication Number - ICC 702/2
  3. ^ As General of the Artillery

References

edit
  1. ^ "South African Artillery Traditions". The Gunners' Association of South Africa. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Artillery Traditions" (PDF). South African Gunner. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Profile - Major General Roy Andersen, CSSA, SD, SM, MMM, JCD Chief of Defence Reserves, SA National Defence Force". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  4. ^ "General of the Gunners" (PDF). South African Gunner. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  5. ^ SA ARMY ORDER: CHIEF ARMY CORPORATE SERVICES (SAAO/C ARMY CORP SVC/CER/317/07) MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING OF DRESS REGULATIONS AND DRESS INSTRUCTIONS IN THE SA ARMY, MEN AND WOMEN. South African Army. June 2007.
  6. ^ SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY UNIFORM SYSTEM CATALOGUE. Department of Defence (South Africa). 22 June 2011.