Transvaal Scottish Regiment

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.

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.

The Regimental headquarters are now in The View, Parktown, originally the house of Sir Thomas Cullinan

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 Basket-hilted 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".

Alliances

•  United Kingdom - Black Watch
•  Scotland - The Atholl Highlanders
•  United Kingdom - Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse

Battle honours

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

• Natal 1906
• South West Africa, 1914-1915
• East Africa (As part of the 1st Infantry Division and then later, as part of the independent 1st South African Infantry Brigade) 1940 - 1941
  • El Wak
  • The Juba
  • Yonte
  • Diredawa
  • Combolcia
  • Amba Alagi
• Western Desert (As part of the 1st Infantry Division) 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:

• Egypt 1916
• Somme 1916
• Delville Wood
• Arras 1917
• Ypres 1917
• Menin Road
• Messines 1918
• Hindenburg Line
• Cambrai 1918
• Pursuit to Mons
• France and Flanders 1918
• Le Transloy
• Scarpe 1917
• Kemmel
• Lys

External links

• Transvaal Scottish Regimental Association