Historic Background of the South West Africa (SWA) 1 Infantry Battalion and Regiment Windhoek: 1927 – 1989

HISTORIC BACKGROUND OF THE SOUTH WEST AFRICA (SWA) 1 INFANTRY BATTALION AND REGIMENT WINDHOEK: 1927 – 1989

Compiled by Wolfgang Witschas

Introduction

South West Africa (SWA) now Namibia, was a German colony from 1884 to1915 (Deutsch Südwestafrika [DSWA]). At the beginning of World War l, in  August 1914, South Africa invaded DSWA as part of the British Dominion and took over the administration of the territory after the German surrender on 15 June 1915.

The Union of South Africa took over the responsibility of law and order/defence. From 1920 the Union Defence Force (UDF) troops were withdrawn an was the newly established South West Africa Police (SWAP) soly responsible to maintain law and order.

SWA: 1920: Union of South Africa Mandate territory

1920 to 1939

In late May/early June 1922 when the Bondelswarts Nama Rebellion occurred, UDF troops were sent to SWA to suppress the rebellion. UDF troops were again deployed to SWA to suppress the Rehoboth Baster Uprising in June 1924 and the Ovambo uprising in 1932.

In 1927 a small UDF Citizen Force unit was created in SWA, under the command of Chief Commandant Matthys J de Jager, Chief Staff Officer, Commandant Christiaan A van Coller and Staff Officer WGC Steyn. In 1936 Van Coller was appointed as the commander of the SWAP and the UDF Citizen Force unit.

World War ll (1939 -1945)

With the beginning of World War ll on 01 September 1939, marshal law was declared in SWA. In November 1939 the UDF created the “SWA Command” with its Head Quarters in Windhoek under the command of an “Officer Commanding (OC)” and two Staff Officers. The first OC was Commandant Christiaan A van Coller. In December 1939 1. SWA Infantry Battalion was created as part of the UDF.

Van Coller left SWA and the first Commander of 1 SWA Infantry Battalion was Commandant EW Bassingthwaighte. In 1940 the Battalion wad transferred to South Africa in transit to be sent to North Africa. This however did not materialise due to the fact that the Allies had pushed the Axis troops  (Germans and Italians)  right up to Tunisia and were on the brink of collapse.

In June 1943 the Battalion was transferred back to SWA/Windhoek for the duration of the war. After WWII in January 1946 was 1 SWA Infantry Battalion renamed “Regiment Windhoek”.

“Animo Et Fide” –
“With Courage and Faith”
1 South West Africa Infantry
Battalion (1 SWA Battalion)
Cap Badge.

 

1946 – 1961

From 01 January 1946 1 SWA Battalion was renamed Regiment Windhoek as a Support Unit and formed part of the Union Citizen Force, stationed at the Suiderhof Base in the south of Windhoek.

In 1957 Regiment Windhoek under the command of Colonel FL Gaum (1956 – 1959) became an Armoured Car Regiment equipped with Marmon–Herrington Mk IVF Armoured Cars and renamed “SWA Regiment”, based in Windhoek

In 1960, SWA Regiment, again was renamed to Regiment Windhoek. The regiment consisted of 16 officers and 205 other ranks. In the early 1970s the second world war vintage Marmon–Herrington Mk IVF Armoured Cars were replaced with the new Eland-60 and Eland-90 Armoured Cars.

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SWATF_Regiment_Windhoek_emblem.jpg

South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF)
1980 -1989

In the late 1970s the South African government decided that the territory of SWA should be granted more autonomy to administer the territory. This amongst other governmental functions, led to the creation of the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF) which absorbed all elements of the former SWA Command and new units were established.

SWATF was officially established on 01 August 1980 and “Regiment Windhoek” was absorbed into 91 SWA Brigade based at the Oamites base near Rehoboth, south of Windhoek.

SWATF Regiment Windhoek beret badge
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SWATF_Regiment_Windhoek_emblem.jpg

SWATF Regiment Windhoek shoulder emblem
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SWATF_Regiment_Windhoek_emblem.jpg

Eland-60 Armoured car
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/911_Battalion_(SWATEF)

A convoy of Eland-90 & 60 armoured cars of Regiment Windhoek, enroute fromGrootfontein to Etale in 1978.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/911_Battalion_(SWATEF)

Epilogue

South West Africa (SWA) 1 Infantry Battalion and Regiment Windhoek was the first that was established and also is the oldest. In the mid to late 1970s the South African Defence Force (SADF) established two other regiments under the SWA Command:
• Regiment Namutoni
• Regiment Erongo

Unfortunately, due to the disbandment of 1 SWA Infantry Battalion in 1943, Regiment Windhoek could not claim full antecedence back to 1939.

References:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/911_Battalion_(SWATEF)
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SWATF_Regiment_Windhoek_emblem.jpg
Book: Die Sûdwestafrikanischen Territorial Streitkräfte: 1980-1989: SWTF: Wolfgang Reith
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