Pretoria Highlanders

Pretoria Highlanders Regiment
Active	1939 to present
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa  Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army  South African Army
Type	Reserve Artillery
Size	Battery
Part of	South African Army Artillery Formation Army Conventional Reserve
Nickname	Jacaranda Jocks

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 Army Reserve 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.

Pipe Band

The Regimental Pipe band has been part of the regiment since shortly after it was raised.^[1]

Regimental Symbols

• Uniform
  • Headdress: khaki Tam O'Shanter, black glengarry; Tourie (on both): bottle green.
  • Tartan: Hunting Stewart (kilt); Sporran: brown leather as working dress and silver/grey haired for mess dress .
  • Hose: khaki with tops of regimental tartan, green garter flashes.
• Nickname: "Jacaranda Jocks" (Pretoria is known as "the Jacaranda City")

Battle honours

• Madagascar 1942

References