Regimental History
Prepared by James H Mitchell
Historical Background -- The regiment was founded in 1902, under the
name of the Transvaal Scottish Volunteers, at the conclusion of the Second Anglo-Boer War
(also known as "The Boer War"). Lieutenant Colonel the Marquis of Tullibardine,
heir to the dukedom of Atholl, worked closely with local Caledonian societies in this
regard to ensure that membership was strongly Scottish. The new unit wore his family
tartan, and its regimental march was Atholl Highlanders. It took the form of a large
battalion with companies in major Transvaal towns.
A detachment saw service in the Natal Rebellion of 1906, but it was not until January
1914, shortly before the start of World War I, that the regiment suffered its first
casualty. This was a private soldier killed during the suppression of strike-related
violence and sabotage on the Witwatersrand.
World War I -- The Transvaal Scottish took part in the invasion of
German South-West Africa in late 1914, where it was joined by a second battalion (2
Transvaal Scottish) which had meanwhile been raised. The original battalion became 1
Transvaal Scottish. The most serious encounter of the campaign was at Trekkoppies,
north-east of Walvis Bay, when German forces attacked in strength. Following the conquest
of German South-West Africa 2 Transvaal Scottish was disbanded, while 1 Transvaal Scottish
spent the remainder of the war in reserve.
Meanwhile new units were raised to fight outside southern Africa (legally the Active
Citizen Force, of which the Transvaal Scottish were a part, was restricted to operations
in that area). Among them was the 4th South African Infantry (SA Scottish). This was a
kilted regiment wearing the Murray of Atholl tartan: one of its companies was drawn from 1
Transvaal Scottish, the other from the disbanded 2TS.
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Delville Wood
-- After brief campaigning in North Africa against a Turkish- inspired Arab attempt to
invade Egypt, the SA Scottish were sent to France. There they were soon embroiled in the
frightful cauldron of the Somme, in particular the battle of Delville Wood in July 1916.
In just seven days the 699-strong battalion was to suffer 74 percent casualties, with only
four officers and 38 other ranks surviving unscathed. Delville Wood was South Africa's
baptism of fire in World War I. The shattered SA Scottish battalion was re-formed after Delville and continued to serve on the Western Front. This included two tours at Vimy, the Somme again, the third battle of Ypres, Marrires Wood and Messines Ridge. Other Transvaal Scottish members served elsewhere, particularly in the Scottish company of the 9th SA Infantry in German East Africa, now Tanzania. A young soldier who fought in that campaign, Private Eric Thompson, became commanding officer of 2 Transvaal Scottish during World War II, was captured at Tobruk, and was later made Honorary Colonel: he died in 1996 just 10 days short of his 101st birthday.
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1922 Rand Revolt -- When the SA Scottish were disbanded at the war's
end, many members rejoined the Transvaal Scottish. Peace was soon disturbed by the 1922
Rand Revolt, an armed rebellion by (white) miners, many of whom had had military
experience. In one encounter alone 12 members of the Transvaal Scottish, including a field
officer, were killed.
As the European dictators moved towards war, preparations in South Africa were
intensified. 2 Transvaal Scottish had been re-formed in 1936, and then at the outset of
World War II, a third battalion was raised.
World War II -- 1 Transvaal Scottish campaigned in Italian Somaliland
and Ethiopia, marching through the capital, Addis Ababa, behind their own pipers playing
Atholl Highlanders. More fighting followed at Combolcia, Dessie and finally at Amba Alagi.
The battalion was next sent to Egypt, taking part in the relief of Tobruk. In November
1941 the 1st Brigade, with which 1 Transvaal Scottish was serving, was attacked by a
strong German force at Taib-el-Essem; it held its ground, however, in a decisive defensive
action. In the Gazala Line it repulsed several attacks before joining the Eighth Army's
retreat to the Alamein Line in Egypt (although a portion of the battalion was trapped and
taken prisoner at Tobruk). 1 Transvaal Scottish now joined the great October 1942
offensive which had the Axis armies in North Africa finally on the run.
Early in the next year the battalion returned home to South Africa. There the unit was
converted to armour, joining 1st SA Armoured Brigade at Barberton.
Battle of Sollum -- 2 Transvaal Scottish started its war with civil
disturbances in Johannesburg, later sailing for North Africa. There members helped
construct the famous Alamein Box, before moving up the coast to the Libyan border. There
on 11 January 1941 they attacked the fortified town of Sollum in a bitterly fought battle
which has ever since been commemorated by 2 Transvaal Scottish.
Later that year one company of the battalion put up a memorable stand at Acroma Keep, but
by mid-June the whole battalion was in Tobruk, where the majority of members were to be
captured with the fall of the so-called 'fortress'.
Disaster at Sidi Rezegh -- 3 Transvaal Scottish sailed north in
December 1940 for the Ethiopian campaign, in particular the three-day attack on Mega.
After this the battalion was sent to Egypt, where it was virtually wiped out at the battle
of Sidi Rezegh. There, on 22 November 1941, the brigade of which 3 Transvaal Scottish
formed part was overrun by German armour. As many men were killed that day, in that one
battalion, as died in each of the other two Transvaal Scottish battalions throughout the
course of the war.
A young 3 Transvaal Scottish NCO, Lance Corporal Bernie Friedlander, was awarded the
George Medal most unusually, on the recommendation of a German officer. An Italian
ship carrying prisoners of war was torpedoed off the Greek coast; Friedlander stripped and
swam ashore with a rope, so that many lives were saved which would have been otherwise
lost.
Sidi Rezegh was the end for 3 Transvaal Scottish, which was temporarily disbanded, but
other Transvaal Jocks fought through Italy either as part of a composite unit or forming
fully one-third of the strength of Prince Alfred's Guard, an Eastern Cape regiment.
Jocks in the Black Watch -- A number of Jocks served during World War
II with their affiliated regiment, The Black
Watch in particular that regiment's 6th battalion. Captain R M Honey, 2 Transvaal
Scottish, who was taken prisoner at Tobruk, later escaped and joined 6 Black Watch north
of Cassino in Italy, fighting in all engagements until the battalion left the line in
November 1944.
Another 2TS officer, Major A A Hope, commanded a small mobile group known as Hope Force
before being sent on missions to the partisans in Yugoslavia and Italy, where he was
finally killed.(The Black Watch of Canada)
Post-war changes -- The war over, all three battalions were
reconstituted in 1946, with the 3rd battalion being converted to artillery as 7th Medium
Regiment (3TS). But the latter was disbanded in at the end of 1959, when many members
transferred to the Transvaal Scottish. Earlier, in 1953, the 1st and 2nd battalions had
been amalgamated. The post-war change in government brought difficult times for the
Transvaal Scottish, whose apparently 'foreign' ethos made it difficult for the Nationalist
Government to understand that the regiment's loyalty was always to South Africa.
South Africans had participated in the two world wars on an entirely voluntary basis, but
in 1952 a ballot system was introduced. On a national basis this proved inadequate, and in
1968 compulsory military service for all white male citizens was brought in - even though
for such regiments as the Transvaal Scottish the voluntary system had proved entirely
adequate. Also in 1968 training moved into a new phase - counter-insurgency warfare. Three
years later, 2 Transvaal Scottish was once again revived, and it became clear that the
authorities were looking more favourably upon South Africa's 'traditional' regiments.
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Portuguese withdrawal from Angola in 1975. Early the next year 1 Transvaal Scottish
deployed into southern Angola from South-West Africa (Namibia) - the start of an
involvement that was to last until 1989. Members of the battalion were the last forces to
quit Angola at the end of the first phase in March 1976 ... but they were to return. That
same year 2 Transvaal Scottish headed for the Caprivi Strip, where later on this battalion
was to help develop a form of highly mobile counter-insurgency operations using
mine-protected vehicles. Using a similar display of initiative in 1979, in an area of
northern South-West Africa (Namibia) just south of the border with Angola, 1 Transvaal
Scottish proved the value of night operations. The battalion persevered in the face of
opposition from the brigade staff. As a result, guerrilla activity showed a marked
decrease where 1 Transvaal Scottish was operating - but increased in a nearby area where
the responsible unit failed to take similar steps.
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Honorus Crux -- In 1983 a member of the regiment so distinguished
himself that he was later presented with South Africa's highest award for valour, the
Honorus Crux. He was Company Sergeant-Major Trevor Wright, who later became regimental
sergeant-major of 2 Transvaal Scottish, and then the Transvaal Scottish. A strong attack
by guerrillas on an isolated company base in the north-west of South-West Africa was
ultimately repulsed, with Wright personally firing a machine gun from the hip at one
point, and supervising ammunition replenishment throughout the course of the enemy attack.
The commendation also took into consideration a previous act of bravery two years earlier.
On that occasion Wright had picked up and hurled out of the way, a primed and lethal hand
grenade which had been accidentally lobbed in front of troops under training.
Thunder Chariot -- South Africa's largest-ever military exercise, Thunder Chariot - held in 1984 - was a proving ground for many young officers and non-commissioned officers of 1 Transvaal Scottish who would hold senior command positions in the future. The battalion was severely tested. But it gained excellent feedback from the Permanent Force evaluators and the staff of the Army Battle School at Lohatla.
Counter-insurgency -- In 1984 a company from 2 Transvaal Scottish,
operating from the same isolated South-West Africa base where the enemy attack had
happened in the previous year, achieved notable successes with the capture of two
insurgents. The company commander, Captain George Brownlow, was later awarded the Southern
Cross Medal for his part.
From the mid-1980s, 2 Transvaal Scottish became the first Citizen Force unit to deploy on
the western Transvaal borders with Botswana and Zimbabwe, and in so doing set the
operational, command, control and logistical pattern for other units to follow. In one
horrific incident in 1986 the battalion was in place when landmines blew up a civilian
farm vehicle, killing two people and badly injuring two others.
In early 1991, 2 Transvaal Scottish carried out a particularly successful camp involving
peace-keeping operations in the townships and rural areas around Pietersburg in the
Northern Transvaal. The battalion was highly commended for its efforts.
During much the same period 1 Transvaal Scottish was transferring its focus to
peace-keeping operations in the black townships, often operating on the Witwatersrand, but
on occasion as far south as Port Elizabeth, as well as in Natal. Numerous successes were
scored, and it was noted that the troops' discipline and calm helped pacify several
previously highly volatile areas without a shot having to be fired.
In late 1989 1 Transvaal Scottish converted briefly from motorised to mechanised infantry,
learning to move in and fight from the South African-developed Ratel infantry combat
vehicles. However unrest control in the townships remained the battalion's prime duty
during call-ups, while 2 Transvaal Scottish continued to serve mainly in the far northern
Transvaal.
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Into the New South Africa -- The regiment's
last major service was to provide troops for, and remain on standby throughout, the
country's first all-race general elections on 27th April 1994. The Transvaal Scottish had
helped assure their country's peaceful transition to full democracy, and with it,
signalled their own readiness to contribute fully to the new South Africa. In 1995 a 44-strong Transvaal Scottish tour party visited the battle site of Delville Wood (and others) in France; also their former colonel-in-chief, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in London; their allied regiment The Black Watch (with its 1st Battalion at Pirbright, Surrey, and the 3rd based at Perth, Scotland); and the Atholl Highlanders and the 10th Duke of Atholl at Blair Atholl, Scotland. Among members of the touring party were a 2TS Lieutenant, who is now the Marquis of Tullibardine, and his brother, now Corporal Lord Murray (both being South African residents), thus perpetuating the link with the founder of their regiment. The visit was returned in June 1997 by a touring party of Atholl Highlanders, who also visited their clan chief and 'colonel-proprietor', the 11th Duke of Atholl, who is a South African. |
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The 11th Duke of Atholl, John Murray |
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Badge and uniform distinctions -- The badge of the
Transvaal Scottish is the Scottish thistle, on a scroll bearing the motto Alba nam Buadh
('Well done, Scotland', or 'Scotland, home of the virtues'). It is surrounded by an
heraldic strap and buckle bearing the regiment's name, all on the Star of the Order of the
Thistle. The thistle and motto also feature in the collar badges worn in certain dress
orders. Various coloured backings to the thistle are used to distinguish the three battalions.
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Dress -- The regimental tartan is Murray of
Atholl, while pipers wear Murray of Tullibardine. The Red Hackle has been worn since 1938 on the khaki tam o'shanter to signify the regiment's connection with the famous Highland regiment, The Black Watch. Officers and Warrant Officers Class I carry typically Scottish claymores-not swords-in review order. |
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Murray of Athol Tartan |
Murray of Tullibardine |
Red Hackle |
Shooting -- Competitive rifle shooting has played a major part in regimental life, ever since members of the Transvaal Scottish were selected in 1905 for the team to compete at the British Bisley. In 1983 a 2 Transvaal Scottish team took the regiment to victory for the third year in succession, to win the premier shooting event for units of the Citizen Forces ... the Gold Cup Challenge Trophy. More recently, teams have competed in Britain in NATO reserve forces events.
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Pipes and Drums
-- The public face of the Transvaal Scottish is often the pipe band. The former 2 Transvaal Scottish Pipes and Drums has several times been Champion Band of Southern Africa, while the then 1 Transvaal Scottish Band had a long history of previous championship wins. Now the combined band is going from strength to strength. |
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Regimental Association -- Serving and former members of the regiment are eligible for membership of the Transvaal Scottish Regimental Association, which meets regularly at The View, in Parktown, Johannesburg. The association publishes The Jock Column, the leading journal of its kind in South Africa. The View ( the historic former home of the diamond magnate Sir Thomas Cullinan ) also houses the outstanding regimental museum of the Transvaal Scottish, and is home to the various regimental messes.
Regimental histories -- A strictly limited number of copies of the
three volumes which cover the history of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment are available.
They are:
The History of the Transvaal
Scottish 1902-1932 by Captain H C Juta,
foreword by Brigadier-General the Duke of Atholl (published 'By Authority', Johannesburg
1933, xvi, 152 pp, 45 pp black & white photographs, line illus., 4 folding maps, maps
in text, nominal rolls of officers, warrant officers and early enlistment's). (Condition:
'variable', not pristine.)
The Saga of the
Transvaal Scottish Regiment 1932-1950 by Carel Birkby, foreword by Field Marshal J C
Smuts (published by Howard Timmins, Cape Town 1950, xxxiv, 752 pp, 4 colour plates, 1
folding b & w photograph, 81 pages b & w photographs, line illus., 5 folding maps,
maps in text, line illus., map endpapers, nominal rolls, bibliography).
Tartan on the Veld: The
Transvaal Scottish 1950-1993 by James
H Mitchell, foreword by Major-General N N Webster, Patron-in-Chief HM Queen Elizabeth
the Queen Mother (published by the TS Regimental Council, Johannesburg 1994, xxxii, 788
pp, 8 pp colour plates, 24 pp b & w photographs, maps, line illus., nominal rolls,
bibliography).
Prices (excluding postage):
Tartan on the Veld R165.00
Tartan on the Veld and The Saga R350.00
Tartan on the Veld, The Saga and The History R710.00
These are available from the Orderly Room of the Transvaal Scottish. Orders must be
accompanied by a cheque or cash in full payment of order, plus R20 for postage and
packing. To avoid postage, books may be collected. Cheques should be made payable to 'The Transvaal Scottish Regimental Council'.
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