List of South African Battle Honours

The South African National Defence Force follows the British Army system of awarding battle honours to military units, to recognize the battles and campaigns in which they have fought with distinction. The following is a list of battle honours with descriptions and listing the units for each battle honour:

Battle Honours of South Africa

South West Africa 1915

Name: South West Africa 1915

- Southern Rifles
- Southern Rifles
- Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own
- Cape Garrison Artillery
- Cape Field Artillery

South West Africa 1914–1915

South West Africa 1914–1915 for the South West Africa campaign

Description:
- Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
- Western Province Mounted Rifles
- Umvoti Mounted Rifles
- Transvaal Scottish Regiment
- Transvaal Horse Artillery
- South African Heavy Artillery
- SA MR Field Artillery
- S.A. Police (1913–1994)
- S.A. Mounted Rifles
- South African Irish Regiment
- Royal Natal Carbineers
- Royal Durban Light Infantry
- Rand Rifles
- Rand Light Infantry
- Pretoria Regiment
- Potchefstroom Ruiters
- Noordelike Transvaal Berede Skutters
- Natal Mounted Rifles
- Natal Field Artillery
- Midlandse Skutters
- Midlandse Ruiters
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
- Kaffrarian Rifle Volunteers
- Imperial Light Horse
- Hartigan's Horse
- Griqualand West Ruiters
- Graaf-Reinet Ruiters
- First City Volunteers of Grahamstown
- Field Ambulance, 1st
- Cape Town Rifles
- Brand's O.V.S. Schutters
- Bechuanaland Rifles, 9th Dismounted Rifles
- Bechuanaland Rifles

Bechuanaland 1896–97

Name: Bechuanaland 1896–97

Description: Cape military and police operations against the Batswana ("Bechuana") from December 1896 to August 1897. Most of the fighting took place in the Langberg mountains. The battle honour was: Bechuanaland 1896–97 (or 1897) Burgher force units which took part were granted their own honours in 1938: Betsjoeanaland 1896 ? Langberg 1897.
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
- Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own

South Africa 1899–1902

Name: South Africa 1899–1902

Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government
- Umvoti Mounted Rifles
- Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles
- Transkei Mounted Rifles
- Royal Natal Carbineers
- Royal Durban Light Infantry
- Queenstown Rifle Volunteers
- Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Guards
- Natal Royal Regiment
- Natal Mounted Rifles
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
- Kaffrarian Rifle Volunteers
- Imperial Light Horse
- First City Volunteers of Grahamstown
- Cape Town Rifles
- Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own
- Border Mounted Rifles

Western Desert 1941–43

Name: Western Desert 1941–43

Description:

Gazala

Name: Gazala from the Battle of Gazala

Description: The Battle of Gazala (near the village of Arabic: عين الغزالة, romanized: ʿAyn al-Ġazāla, lit. 'Spring of the female Gazelle/the rising sun') was fought during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, west of the port of Tobruk in Libya, from 26 May to 21 June 1942. Axis troops of the Panzerarmee Afrika (Generaloberst Erwin Rommel) consisting of German and Italian units fought the British Eighth Army (General Sir Claude Auchinleck, also Commander-in-Chief Middle East) composed mainly of British Commonwealth, Indian and Free French troops.

Alem Hamza

Name: Alem Hamza

Description:
- Transvaal Scottish Regiment
- Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own

El Alamein

Name: El Alamein
Description: The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought in Egypt between Axis forces (Germany and Italy) of the Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika) (which included the Afrika Korps under Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) Erwin Rommel) and Allied (British Imperial and Commonwealth) forces (United Kingdom, British India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) of the Eighth Army (under General Claude Auchinleck).

Italy 1944–45

Name: Italy 1944–45
Description:

Casino II

Name: Casino II
Description:

Chiusi

Name: Chiusi
Description:
- First City Volunteers of Grahamstown
- Cape Town Highlanders, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own

Florence

Name: Florence
Description:

The Greve

Name: The Greve
Description:

Gothic Line

Name: Gothic Line
Description:

Monte Stanco

Name: Monte Stanco
Description:

Monte Pezza

Name: Monte Pezza
Description:

Sole/Caprara

Name: Sole/Caprara
Description:

Po Valley

Name: Po Valley
Description:

Gaika Gcaleka 1877

Name: Gaika Gcaleka 1877
Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika ("Gaika") and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.

Transkei 1879

Name: Transkei 1879
- A Cape unit, which was stationed in the Transkei to release a British regiment for active service, has this, its own honour for this period
  - Cape Town Rifles

Basutoland 1880–81

Name: Basutoland 1880–81
- A campaign, conducted against the Basotho in Basutoland (now Lesotho) from September 1880 to June 1881. The Cape transferred the Basutoland protectorate to Britain in 1884. Burgher force ("commando") units which served in this campaign were granted separate honours in 1938

Bechuanaland 1897

Name: Bechuanaland 1897
Description:

East Africa 1940–41

Name: East Africa 1940–41
Description:

El Wak

Name: El Wak
Description:

The Juba

Name: The Juba
Description:

Combolcia

Name: Combolcia
Description:

Amba Alagi

Name: Amba Alagi
Description:

Sidi Rezegh

Name: Sidi Rezegh
Description:

South Africa 1879

Battle Honours
Awarded
Unknown: South Africa 1879 Please see the for help

Name: South Africa 1879
Description: British and Natal forces invaded Zululand in January 1879 and conquered it after a hard 6-month campaign. The Natal government authorised a battle honour in 1909.

Relief of Ladysmith

Name: Relief of Ladysmith
Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government
- Umvoti Mounted Rifles
- Royal Durban Light Infantry
- Natal Royal Regiment
- Imperial Light Horse

Natal 1906

Name: Natal 1906
Description: Natal operations (with Transvaal support) against the Zulu and Zondi between February and August 1906. The Natal government authorised a battle honour in 1908
- Zululand Mounted Rifles
- Umvoti Mounted Rifles
- Royal Natal Carbineers
- Royal Durban Light Infantry
- Northern Districts Mounted Rifles
- Natal Royal Regiment
- Natal Mounted Rifles
- Imperial Light Horse
- Border Mounted Rifles

Bardia

Name: Bardia
Description: On 2 January 1942, Bardia was re-taken by the South African 2nd Infantry Division, led by 1st Battalion, Royal Durban Light Infantry, supported by the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment and also the South African 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade (Light Anti-Aircraft). The South Africans lost approximately 160 men, and the operation freed about 1,150 Allied prisoners of war (including 650 New Zealanders) and took some 8,500 Axis prisoners (German and Italian).

Point 204

Name: Point 204
Description:
- S.A. Police (1913–1994)
- Royal Natal Carbineers

Madagascar 1942

Name: Madagascar 1942
Description:
- First City Volunteers of Grahamstown

Griqualand West 1878

Name: Griqualand West 1878
Description: A campaign by Cape Colony forces against the Koranna on the colony's northern border (the Orange River) in 1878.
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment

Transkei 1880–81

Name: Transkei 1880–81
Description: One of two concurrent campaigns by Cape Colony forces against African subjects who resisted a government police outlawing ownership of firearms. This was conducted against the Xhosa in the Transkei from October 1880 until April 1881.
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment

Defence of Kimberley

Name: Defence of Kimberley
Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment

Celleno

Name: Celleno

Monte Porro del Bagno

Name: Monte Porro del Bagno
- Kimberley Volunteer Regiment
- Imperial Light Horse

Monte Vigese

Name: Monte Vigese

Monte Salvaro

Name: Monte Salvaro

Defence of Ladysmith

Name: Defence of Ladysmith
Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government

Gibeon

Name: Gibeon

Mersa Belafarit

Name: Mersa Belafarit
- Imperial Light Horse

Dadaba

Name: Dadaba
- Natal Mounted Rifles

Best Post

Name: Best Post

The Tiber

Name: The Tiber
- Natal Mounted Rifles

Madagascar

Name: Madagascar
- Pretoria Regiment
- Pretoria Highlanders

Bagno Regio

Name: Bagno Regio
- Pretoria Regiment

Sarteano

Name: Sarteano
- Pretoria Regiment

La Foce

Name: La Foce
- Pretoria Regiment

Catarelto Ridge

Name: Catarelto Ridge
- Pretoria Regiment

Transkei 1877–78

Name: Transkei 1877–78
Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika ("Gaika") and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.
- Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Guards

Umzintzani

Name: Umzintzani
Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika ("Gaika") and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.
- Prince Alfred's Own Volunteer Guards

Allerona

Name:Allerona
- Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
- Regiment de la Rey

Monte Querciabella

Name: Monte Querciabella
- Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
- Regiment de la Rey

Monte Fili

Name:Monte Fili
- Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
- Regiment de la Rey

Campo Santo Bridge

Name: Campo Santo Bridge
- Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
- Regiment de la Rey

Kilimanjaro

Name: Kilimanjaro
- South African Infantry Regiment, 9th (9 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 8th (8 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 6th (6 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 5th (5 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 11th (11 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 10th (10 SAI)
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- SA Horse, 3rd (3rd SAH)
- SA Field Ambulance, 5th
- SA Field Ambulance, 4th
- SA Field Ambulance, 3rd
- SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
- SA Field Ambulance, 1st
- Cape Corps

Behobeho

Name: Behobeho
- South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 6th (6 SAI)
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- Cape Corps

Nyangao

Name: Nyangao
- South African Infantry Regiment, 8th (8 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- SA Horse, 10th (10th SAH)
- Cape Corps

East Africa 1916–17

Name: East Africa 1916–17
- Cape Corps

East Africa 1917–18

Name: East Africa 1917–18
- Cape Corps

East Africa 1916–18

Name: East Africa 1916–18
- Transvaal Scottish Regiment
- South African Infantry Regiment, 9th (9 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 8th (8 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 7th (7 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 6th (6 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 5th (5 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 11th (11 SAI)
- South African Infantry Regiment, 10th (10 SAI)
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- SA Horse, 9th (9th SAH)
- SA Horse, 8th (8th SAH)
- SA Horse, 4th (4th SAH)
- SA Horse, 3rd (3rd SAH)
- SA Horse, 10th (10th SAH)
- SA Field Ambulance, 5th
- SA Field Ambulance, 4th
- SA Field Ambulance, 3rd
- SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
- SA Field Ambulance, 1st
- S.A. Rifles
- Cape Corps

Megiddo

Name: Megiddo
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- Cape Corps

Cape of Good Hope

Name: Cape of Good Hope
- Cape Corps

Nablus

Name: Nablus
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- Cape Corps

Palestine 1918

Name: Palestine 1918
- South African Cape Corps Service Battalion
- SA Field Ambulance, 5th
- SA Field Ambulance, 4th
- SA Field Ambulance, 3rd
- SA Field Ambulance, 2nd
- SA Field Ambulance, 1st
- Cape Corps

Mega

Name: Mega
- Transvaal Scottish Regiment
- South African Irish Regiment

Yonte

Name: Yonte
- Transvaal Scottish Regiment

Diredawa

Name: Diredawa
- Transvaal Scottish Regiment