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Home   UNITS   Armaments   About   Members   Gallery   Events   Museum   Links   Contact   Units of the South African Armour Corps  Back        Search for a unit: PRINCE ALFRED’S GUARD History | Officers Commanding | RSM | Insignia | Customs History       Go top …Established as the Port Elizabeth Volunteer Rifle Corps on September 19, 1856, the title Prince Alfreds Guard (PAG) was unofficially assumed in 1860 when the regiment escorted Queen Victorias second son. Official recognition came in 1874, and the name Prince Alfreds Volunteer Guard was adopted. The regiments first action came during the 9th Frontier War on December 2, 1877 at Umzintzani. Afterwards, a Xhosa shield with crossed assegais and with the word Umzintzani became the unit collar badge. The subsequent battle honour was the first awarded a South African reserve unit. In 1880 a PAVG contingent served in the Basutoland campaign. A highlight was the claim to have made a bayonet charge at Lerotholis kraal on October 22, the first made by a British volunteer regiment. A second contingent arrived in February 1881 and also saw action. In 1897 a contingent served in the Langberg (Bechuanaland) campaign where they made another bayonet charge, and in 1899 the regiment, now 691 strong, was mobilised for the Anglo South African War. The regiment at first guarded the railway between De Aar and Stormberg but in early 1900 about two companies were converted to mounted infantry and served in the Free State and Transvaal with the 6th and 11th Divisions. Between 1913 and 1934 the unit was renamed the 3rd Infantry, Active Citizen Force. World War One saw it mobilised on August 22, 1914 for garrison duty in the Cape peninsula. It was demobilised the next July. Nearly 90% then volunteered for overseas service. During World War Two, the PAG served as a link battalion for 2 SA Brigade, sending drafts, many of whom served with the Field Force Battalion. At last, in February 1943, it was announced that the PAG would become a tank regiment in 6 SA Armoured Divisions 11 Armoured Brigade. The unit landed at Taranto, Italy, on April 20, 1944, equipped with Sherman Mk Vs and Crusaders, initially tasked to help relieve the bridgehead at Anzio. Later the unit took part in the advance on Florence. During the 1970s and 1980s the unit, now equipped with Eland armoured cars, took part in counterinsurgency operations throughout South Africa and also in Namibia and Angola. In 1984 the unit converted to the Olifant main battle tank and was allocated to 9 SA Division. The unit saw service in the then-Transvaal before and during the nonracial 1994 elections. The unit was then remustered as mechanised, then motorised, and, now, as air assault infantry. Officers Commanding       Go top   From To Colonel J.M. Hill 1856 1857 Colonel A.J. Clairmonte 1857 1857 Colonel A. Ogilvie 1857 1860 Colonel A.C. Wylde 1861 1865 Captain W. Fleming 1865 1865 Colonel A.C. Wylde 1874 1876 Major G.R. Deare 1876 1888 Lt Col. G. Gordon 1888 1898 Major G.C. Clark CMG VD 1898 1899 Lt Col. H.W. Court VD 1899 April 1915 Lt Col. J.N. Neylan DSO April 1915 November 1915 Lt Col. A.P.J. Wares VD November 1915 May 1925 Lt Col. F.L.A. Buchanan MC VD January 1916 June 1930 Lt Col. Whitehead DSO June 1925 January 1926 Lt Col. J.L. Reis VD July 1935 September 1942 Lt Col. H.A. Olsen DSO ED September 1942 December 1945 Lt Col. W.E. Hawkins ED February 1946 June 1952 Commandant G.M. Human July 1952 April 1955 Commandant J.N. Erasmus JCD May 1955 January 1959 Commandant I.F. Nel SM JCD January 1959 RSM       Go top   From To Insignia       Go top Customs       Go top © Copyright 2024  |  Site developed by TEN4 Web Solutions  |  www.ten4.co.za Admin