Natal Carbineers

Natal Carbineers
SANDF Natal Carbineers emblem
Active	13 March 1855 to present
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa  Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army  South African Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Motorised Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Formation Army Conventional Reserve
Garrison/HQ	The Drill Hall, Pietermaritzburg
Nickname(s)	One Carbs
Motto(s)	Pro Patria (For the Fatherland)
Anniversaries	13 March (Regimental Day)
Battle honours	Awarded South Africa 1879 South Africa 1899-1902 Defence of Ladysmith Natal 1906 South West Africa 1914 - 1915 Gibeon East Africa 1940-41 El Wak The Juba Combolcia Amba Alagi Western Desert 1941-43 Sidi Rezegh Gazala Point 204 Alamein Defence Italy 1944-45 Casino II Florence The Greve Gothic Line Monte Vigese Monte Stanco Monte Pezza Po Valley El Alamein
Insignia
Company level Insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992	SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

The Natal Carbineers Regiment is an infantry unit of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

The Natal Carbineers Regiment traces its roots to 1854 but it was formally raised on 15 January 1855 and gazetted on 13 March of that year.

In 1913, the Regiment’s two ‘wings’ became known as the First and Second Mounted Rifles (Natal Carbineers) and in 1934 they re-assumed the name 1st and 2nd Natal Carbineers. The following year, they became the Royal Natal Carbineers, a title which remained in use until the country became a republic in 1961. Since its inception, the Natal Carbineers have participated in every campaign in KwaZulu-Natal. Their baptism of fire came during the Langalibalele Rebellion in 1873 where they suffered their first casualties in action in the Drakensberg. Subsequently, during the Anglo-Zulu War, the Carbineers suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879.

The Natal Carbineers participated in the invasion of Zululand in January 1879, and on 22 January, 23 members of the Regiment perished in the famous battle of Isandlwana. The unit was subsequently relegated to garrison duties at Landman’s Drift on the Mzinyathi, or Buffalo River.

In September 1899, the Natal Carbineers were mobilized for active service in the British campaign to subdue the Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. The Regiment served until October 1900, when the Natal Volunteer Forces were demobilized. Some men continued their service in the Volunteer Composite Regiment until the end of the war in May 1902.