Pretoria Highlanders

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The Pretoria Highlanders Regiment is a 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.

History

The regiment was founded by Peter Lawrence Goudie on the outbreak of World War II in 1939. He recruited 1,400 men within six weeks and also raised the funds to equip them with Highland uniforms.

During World War II the regiment, as part of 7 South African Infantry Brigade, took part in "Operation Rose", the invasion of Madagascar by South African forces in June 1942. As far as is known, this is the first (and only) amphibious operation in which South African troops ever participated.

In 1946, the PH were converted to artillery and renamed 1 Anti-Tank Regiment (PH). When the Army was reorganised in 1960, for internal security duties, the regiment was converted to armour and reverted to its original name of Pretoria Highlanders.

Regimental Symbols

Uniform: Headdress: khaki balmoral, black glengarry; Tourie (on both): bottle green. Tartan: Hunting Stewart (kilt); Sporran: white with two black tails. Hose: green with tops of regimental tartan, green garter flashes. Nickname: "Jacaranda Jocks" (Pretoria is known as "the jacaranda city")

Battle honours

Madagascar 1942

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