Unit Name: | Rand Light Infantry |
Allegiance: | |
Branch: | |
Type: | Infantry |
Role: | Light Infantry |
Command Structure: | South African Infantry Formation Army Conventional Reserve |
Motto: | Latin: Vincit qui patitur (He conquers who endures) |
March: | Quick: One and All and Trelawney Slow: Duke of York/Preobajensky Double Time: Keel Row |
Battles: | |
Battle Honours: |
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Website: | http://1rli.wordpress.com/ |
Commander1: | Lt Col John Mellitchey |
Identification Symbol Label: | Company level Insignia |
Identification Symbol 2 Label: | SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992 |
The Rand Light Infantry (RLI) is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve unit or United States Army National Guard unit.
The history of this regiment dates back to the Transvaal Cycle Corps, which was formed in Johannesburg on 1 October 1905 from the Bicycle Section of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment.[1] A small section of this unit subsequently took part in the suppression of the Bambata Rebellion in Zululand.[2]
After its return from this conflict the unit recognised the possibilities of mechanisation and members of the regiment manufactured three armoured cars, creating a motorised fighting unit. This led to the renaming of the unit in 1909 to the Transvaal Cycle and Motor Corps.
On 1 July 1913 the regiment was renamed the 11th Infantry (Rand Light Infantry) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force of the Union Defence Force. Simultaneously, the unit was converted to a normal infantry regiment. The regiment's Pretoria detachment was transferred to the 12th Infantry (Pretoria Regiment).
During World War I the regiment took part in the South-West Africa, suffering light casualties – only two dead and eleven wounded.
In 1932 the regiment was renamed the Rand Light Infantry.
The RLI was mobilized for World War II in June 1940 and gained fame in North Africa where it took part in many front line engagements and earned battle honours at Bardia, Gazala and El Alamein. (See 1st SA Infantry Division) After the defeat of Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the RLI returned to South Africa and was merged with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles. The remaining members of the regiment were trained in armour, and sent as reinforcements to the South African 6th Armoured Division in Italy.[3]
The regiment took part in the South African Border War.[4]
The exercised its freedom of entry into Johannesburg on 9 November 2013 as part of the centenary celebrations of the City of Johannesburg withfixed bayonets, colours flying and drums beating.
See also: List of South African Battle Honours. The RLI has been awarded the following Battle Honours:South West Africa 1914-1915, Western Desert 1941 – 1943, Bardia, Gazala, El Alamein, Alamein Defence
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