Pretoria Highlanders
title: "Pretoria Highlanders" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["highland-regiments", "artillery-regiments-of-south-africa", "military-units-and-formations-established-in-1939", "military-units-and-formations-disestablished-in-2017"] topic_path: "geography/south-africa" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretoria_Highlanders" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="infobox military unit"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| unit_name | Pretoria Highlanders Regiment |
| image | [[File:SANDF Pretoria Highlanders emblem.jpg |
| caption | SANDF Pretoria Highlanders emblem |
| dates | 1939 to 4 June 2017 |
| country | |
| allegiance | {{plainlist |
| * {{flag | South Africa |
| * {{flag | South Africa |
| branch | {{plainlist |
| type | Reserve Artillery |
| size | Battery |
| command_structure | South African Army Artillery Formation |
| Army Conventional Reserve | |
| nickname | Jacaranda Jocks |
| disbanded | 4 June 2017 |
| commander1_label | Officer Commanding |
| identification_symbol | Bursting grenade with seven flames |
| identification_symbol_label | Collar Badge |
| identification_symbol_2 | Oxford Blue |
| identification_symbol_2_label | Beret Colour |
| identification_symbol_3 | [[File:SANDF Artillery Battery emblems.jpg |
| identification_symbol_3_label | Artillery Battery Emblems |
| identification_symbol_4 | [[File:SANDF Artillery Beret Bar.jpg |
| identification_symbol_4_label | Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992 |
| :: |
| unit_name= Pretoria Highlanders Regiment | image=[[File:SANDF Pretoria Highlanders emblem.jpg|200px|SANDF Pretoria Highlanders emblem]] | caption=SANDF Pretoria Highlanders emblem | dates= 1939 to 4 June 2017 | country= | allegiance={{plainlist|
- South Africa
- South Africa | branch={{plainlist|
| type= Reserve Artillery | role= | size=Battery | command_structure=South African Army Artillery Formation Army Conventional Reserve | garrison= | garrison_label= | nickname= Jacaranda Jocks | patron= | motto= | colors= | colors_label= | march= | mascot= | equipment= | equipment_label= | battles= | anniversaries= | decorations= | battle_honours= | battle_honours_label= | disbanded=4 June 2017 | flying_hours= | website= | commander1= | commander1_label=Officer Commanding | commander2= | commander2_label= | commander3= | commander3_label= | commander4= | commander4_label= | notable_commanders= |identification_symbol=Bursting grenade with seven flames |identification_symbol_label=Collar Badge |identification_symbol_2=Oxford Blue |identification_symbol_2_label=Beret Colour |identification_symbol_3=[[File:SANDF Artillery Battery emblems.jpg|200px|SANDF Artillery Battery emblems]] |identification_symbol_3_label=Artillery Battery Emblems |identification_symbol_4=[[File:SANDF Artillery Beret Bar.jpg|200px|SANDF Artillery Beret Bar]] |identification_symbol_4_label= Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992
The Pretoria Highlanders Regiment was a regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.
Though the regiment was disbanded, the associated pipe band continues to operate.
History
World War 2
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 7th 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.
Post World War and into Border War
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 Armoured Cars and reverted to its original name of Pretoria Highlanders. In 1989 the regiment was converted to a Tank Unit until its amalgamation with Pretoria Regiment in 1997.
The regiment was assigned to the 7th Division's 73 Motorised Brigade. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/SADF_73_Brigade_Pretoria_Highlanders_Commemorative_letter.jpg" caption="73 Brigade Pretoria Highlanders commemorative letter circa 1989"] ::
Pipe Band
An early band was established around the time of the regiment's formation. The post-war Pretoria Highlanders Pipes and Drums was established in 1979. It was disbanded in 2005, by which time it received no official defence force support. The band was re-established and held its first gathering on 13 April 2013.
Officers Commanding
- Cmdt Keith Ingram
- Cmdt Braam Botes
- Cmdt Richard Webb
- Cmdt Henk Kaal
- Lt Col Hein Kruger
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")
Previous Dress Insignia
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/SADF_era_Pretoria_Highlanders_insignia.jpg" caption="SADF era Pretoria Highlanders insignia"] ::
Battle honours
References
References
- "South African Military History Society - Journal - Operation Rose - MADAGASCAR 1942".
- "History – Pretoria Highlanders Pipes and Drums".
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