Transvaal Scottish Regiment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Transvaal Scottish
Active	1902-
Country	South Africa
Type	Infantry
Role	Motorised Infantry
Size	One battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Johannesburg
Motto	Alba nam Buadh (Scotland, Home of the Virtues)
March	The Atholl Highlanders
Insignia
Tartan	Murray of Atholl Murray of Tullibardine (pipes and drums)

The Transvaal Scottish Regiment 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.

1 History
2 Regimental Symbols
3 Alliances
4 Battle honours
5 External links

[edit] History

John Murray, Marquis of Tullibardine, who later became the 7th Duke of Atholl, established the regiment after the conclusion of the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1902. Its initial membership consisted of volunteers from Scottish units that had fought in the war who chose to demobilise and remain in the colony.

The regiment subsequently took part in all 20th-century conflicts in which the South African Army fought, including World War I, World War II and the South African Border War.

[edit] Regimental Symbols

The regimental tartan is the "Murray of Atholl", except for the pipers who wear the "Murray of Tullibardine". Both tartans symbolise the regiment's connections to the Dukes of Atholl, and thus to the Atholl Highlanders. Since 1938, members have worn the red hackle on their khaki tam o'shanter as a symbol of the regiment's connection with the famous Black Watch Regiment. As part of their formal uniforms, officers and Warrant Officers Class I of the regiment carry claymores instead of the more typical swords.
The regimental badge depicts a Scottish thistle on a scroll bearing the motto Alba nam Buadh (Gaelic for "Well done, Scotland" or "Scotland, home of the virtues"). It is surrounded by a heraldic strap and buckle bearing the regiment's name, all on the Star of the Order of the Thistle.
The regimental March is the "Atholl Highlanders".

[edit] Alliances

United Kingdom - Black Watch
Scotland - The Atholl Highlanders (Bond of Friendship)

[edit] Battle honours

The Transvaal Scottish has the following battle honours on its regimental colours:

Natal, 1906
South West Africa, 1914-1915
East Africa, 1940 - 1941
- El Wak
- The Juba
- Yonte
- Diredawa
- Combolcia
- Amba Alagi
Western Desert, 1941-1943
- Sollum
- Sidi Rezegh
- Gazala
- Alem Hamza
- Acroma Keep
- Alamein Defence
- Mega
- El Alamein

In addition, the regiment (along with the Cape Town Highlanders Regiment) still claims fifteen "missing" battle honours awarded for service in France and Flanders to the 4th South African Infantry (South African Scottish) battalion; these include some of the most famous in South Africa’s military history: