First City (Infantry Regiment)

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First City is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.

[edit] History

The regiment was formed in Grahamstown in 1875, in anticipation of a war in the Transkei. It was originally called the 1st City of Grahamstown Volunteers, but later became known simply as the First City Volunteers.

The FCV fought in the 9th Frontier War (1877-1878) and the Basutoland Gun War (1880-1881). It later fought in the Bechuanaland campaign (1897), and in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).

In 1913, the FCV amalgamated with the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers and was embodied in the Citizen Force of the new Union Defence Forces as the 4th Infantry (First Eastern Rifles). It served in German South West Africa in 1915.

The title was changed to 4th Infantry (First City) in 1924, and to First City in 1932. In the late 1930s, FC adopted Scottish uniform, including the Graham of Montrose tartan.

During World War II, FC served in the Madagascar campaign (1942), and in Italy (1944-1945).

From 1954 to 1956, FC was amalgamated with the Kaffrarian Rifles.

FC served in the Border War in the 1970s and 1980s.