# Durban Light Infantry

The Durban Light Infantry is a Motorised Infantry regiment of the South African Army. It lost its status as a Mechanised infantry regiment in 2010 in line with the rationalisation of resources. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

## History

The full history of the regiment is recounted in an exhaustive but vivid and readable two-volume history by Lt.Col A.C.Martin, M.C.,V.D.,B.A.(Cape), Hon Ph.D (Natal). The first volume (368 pages) cover the period 1854-1934, and the second (487 pages) the period 1935-1960. The volumes are illustrated with over 100 photographs and maps.

### Origin

The Regiment was formed as the D’Urban Volunteer Guard, in May 1854. In 1859 the unit became the Durban Rifle Guard. In 1873 the unit became known as the Royal Durban Rifles. In 1889 the unit became known as the Natal Royal Rifles (Left half Battalion). In 1895 it became the Durban Light Infantry.

### With the Union Defence Force

On the constitution of the Union Defence Force in 1912, the Unit became the Durban Light Infantry, renamed the 1st Infantry, (Durban Light Infantry). In consequence the Unit was permitted to add to its badge "Primus in Africa", the motto retained by the unit today in recognition of its foundation.

### Seniority

In 1935, King George V conferred the title Royal on two Regiments being the Royal Durban Light Infantry and the Royal Natal Carbineers, as a recognition of their seniority and service.
In 1961 with the formation of the Republic, the title "Royal" was considered incompatible and the Regiment reverted to being the Durban Light Infantry.

## Regimental Colours

At the centre of the 'Regimental Colour' is the badge worn by the Regiment since 1961. It consists of the recognised Infantry Silver Bugle with tassels and a shield with two wildebeest and a crown. The wildebeest are symbolic of the Province, while the crown retained as a traditional device is reminiscent of the title "Royal" bestowed upon the Regiment by King George V in 1935.
The words "Primus in Africa" are superimposed within a scroll.
The crest is composed of a lion passant guardant on three mounds – the centre mound being charged with a pyramid. The lion is symbolic of strength, courage and fortitude. The three mounds are symbolic of the battles fought in World War II – Monte Stanco, Monte Peza and Monte Sole/Caprara. The pyramid is symbolic of the 1941–1943 Egyptian Campaign.
The garland which surrounds the coloured badge comprises the Thistle of Scotland, the Tudor Rose of England and the Shamrock of Ireland – symbols taken from the old colour – and the other two flowers, the Protea, the National flower of South Africa, and the Strelitzia, the flower of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal).

### Current Dress Insignia
## Active Service
### Battle Honours

Battle Honours :
* Awarded to Durban Light Infantry

### Service

* South Africa, Anglo-Zulu War 1879
* South Africa, Anglo-Boer War 1899–1902
* Relief of Ladysmith 1900
* Natal, Bambatha Rebellion 1906
* South West Africa 1914–1915
* East Africa 1916–1918
* Rand Miners' Revolt 1922
* World War II
** Western Desert 1941–1943 (See 1st SA Infantry Division)
** Bardia
** Gazala
** Alamein Defence
** Alamein Box
** El Alamein
** Italy 1944–1945
** Casino II
** Florence
** Gothic Line
** Monte Stanco
** Monte Pezza
** Sole/Caprara
** Po Valley
* South West Africa – Namibia 1976–1994, five tours.
* Internally in South Africa in support of the SAPS (SA. Police Service) in the following actions;
** 1949, 1960, 1961
** 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992 (mainly rural areas)
** 1994 Elections.
** 1996 Elections.
** 1999 Elections.
* 2006 Op in Burundi. Detached members to Standing Army control structures.
* 2007–2014. Internal operations.

## Leadership

Leadership :
| From | Colonels-In-Chief | To |
| 1905 | Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn KG KT KP GCB GCSI GCMG GCIE GCVO GBE VD TD | 1938 |
| 1947 | HM Queen Elizabeth II | 1961 |
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| 1903 | Maj General Sir George Dartnell KCB CMG | 1913 |
| 1914 | Col the Hon. Sir Matthew Nathan GCMG PC | 1939 |
| 1940 | Brig General GMJ Molyneux DSO VD | 1959 |
| 1960 | Col C Metcalfe SSA JCD ED JP | 2004 |
| 2005 | Col Errol Richardson | 2013 |
| 2013 | Awaiting Nomination | Present |
| From | Commanding Officers of the Regiment | To |
| From | OC Durban Volunteer Guard | To |
| nd | Colonel, the Hon George Rutherford | nd |
| From | OC Durban Rifle Guard | To |
| nd | Colonel HJ Meller | nd |
| 1863 | Major AW Evans | nd |
| 1866 | Capt BW Greenacre | nd |
| From | OC Royal Durban Rifles | To |
| nd | Capt Edward Randles | nd |
| 1874 | Capt William Randles | nd |
| 1879 | Capt PS Flack | nd |
| 1884 | Capt JF King | nd |
| 1886 | Capt T McCubbin | nd |
| From | OC Natal Royal Rifles | To |
| 1889 | Major T McCubbin | nd |
| 1893 | Major HR Bousfield | nd |
| From | OC Durban Light Infantry | To |
| nd | Lt Col T McCubbin MG VD | nd |
| 1902 | Lt Col J Scott-Wylie MVO VD | nd |
| 1914 | Col J Scott-Wylie MVO VD | nd |
| 1914 | Lt Col J Dick VD (Second Battalion) | 1915 |
| 1914 | Lt Col RL Goulding VD (First Battalion) | 1915 |
| 1915 | Lieut Col GMJ Molyneux DSO VD (First Battalion) | nd |
| 1915 | Col J Scott-Wylie DSO MVO VD | nd |
| 1920 | Lt Col GMJ Molyneux DSO VD | nd |
| 1925 | Lieut Col JFR Lauth DSO VD | nd |
| 1930 | Lieut Col CE Borain MC VD | nd |
| From | OC Royal Durban Light Infantry | To |
| 1935 | Lt Col CE Borain MC VD | nd |
| 1936 | Lt Col IW Nolan VD (First Battalion) | nd |
| 1936 | Lt Col LGC Bayliss VD (Second Battalion) | nd |
| 1937 | Lt Col J Butler-Porter VD (1/2 Battalion) | nd |
| 1940 | Lt Col LC Wendt VD (Second Battalion) | nd |
| 1942 | Lt Col J Butler-Porter DSO VD (1/2 Battalion) | nd |
| 1943 | Lt Col C Metcalfe SSA JCD ED JP (1/2 Battalion) | nd |
| 1946 | Lt Col C Metcalfe SSA JCD ED JP (First Battalion) | nd |
| 1946 | Lt Col LC Wendt DSO VD (Second Battalion) | nd |
| 1947 | Lt Col AC Martin MC VD (Second Battalion) | nd |
| 1950 | Cmdt OS Hampson VD (Second Battalion) | nd |
| 1952 | Cmdt C Metcalfe SSA JCD ED VD JP | nd |
| 1952 | Cmdt OS Hampson VD | nd |
| 1956 | Cmdt G Jaaback VD | nd |
| 1961 | Cmdt JH Smallwood JCD | nd |
| From | Durban Light Infantry | To |
| c. 1961 | Cmdt JH Smallwood SM JCD | c. 1969 |
| 1969 | Cmdt DN Deavin JCD | nd |
| 1974 | Cmdt JJ Hulme JCD | nd |
| 1980 | Cmdt MJ Adrain MMM JCD | nd |
| 1984 | Cmdt DI Moe SM MMM JCD | nd |
| 1989 | Cmdt WJ Olivier SM MMM JCD | nd |
| 1995 | Lt Col GPD De Ricquebourg MMM JCD | nd |
| 2004 | Lt Col Mark J Whitson MMM JCD | nd |
| 2011 | Lieut Col PH Bruyns | nd |
| 2012 | Lt Col SA Mbuyazi (Suspended) | nd |
| 2012 | Lt Col MD Motsamai (Caretaker OC) | nd |
| nd | Lieut Col Z. Hangana | Present |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
| From | Durban Volunteer Guard | To |
| nd | G Russell | nd |
| From | Durban Rifle Guard | To |
| 1861 | A Miliett | 1862 |
| 1862 | T Green | 1863 |
| 1863 | WK Packman | 1864 |
| 1864 | A Curle | 1866 |
| 1866 | W Geere | nd |
| From | Royal Durban Rifles | To |
| 1873 | AJ Court | 1873 |
| 1873 | DI Nolan | 1876 |
| 1876 | SB Kemp | 1877 |
| 1877 | W Goodal | 1880 |
| 1880 | J Archibald | 1886 |
| 1886 | H Hatchell | nd |
| From | Natal Royal Rifles | To |
| nd | A Forbes | nd |
| From | Durban Light Infantry | To |
| 1895 | RSM A Forbes | 1910 |
| 1910 | RSM AL Pepper | 1913 |
| 1913 | RSM A Eales | 1914 |
| 1914 | RSM A Eales (First Battalion) | 1915 |
| 1914 | RSM WJ Simpson (Second Battalion) | 1915 |
| 1915 | RSM A Eales | 1926 |
| 1927 | RSM G Sime | 1931 |
| 1932 | RSM PH Johnson | 1933 |
| 1933 | RSM CA Carlyle | nd |
| From | Royal Durban Light Infantry | To |
| 1933 | RSM CA Carlyle | 1935 |
| 1936 | RSM CA Carlyle (First Battalion) | nd |
| 1942 | RSM LPA Boxhall | nd |
| 1936 | RSM JWH McGreavey (Second Battalion) | nd |
| 1942 | RSM LPA Boxhall (1/2 Battalion) | nd |
| 1943 | RSM NJR Punch (1/2 Battalion) | nd |
| 1946 | RSM LPA Boxhall (First Battalion) | nd |
| 1948 | RSM JF Potgieter (First Battalion) | nd |
| 1946 | RSM J.E. Law (Second Battalion) | nd |
| 1950 | RSM W.H. Ward (Second Battalion) | nd |
| nd | RSM J.F. Potgieter ED | nd |
| 1956 | RSM J.J. Wiliemse | nd |
| 1957 | RSM C. Krause | nd |
| 1959 | RSM A.R. Miles | nd |
| From | Durban Light Infantry | To |
| 1962 | RSM A.R. Miles JCD | 1968 |
| 1968 | RSM S.M.J. Swanepoel JCD | 1974 |
| 1974 | WO1 R.I. Francis PMM MMM JCD | 1993 |
| 1993 | WO1 Mark J. Whitson MMM JCD | 1995 |
| 1995 | WO1 W.J. Smith MMM JCD | 1999 |
| 2000 | WO1 Bobby Freeman JCD | 2005 |
| 2005 | WO1 Quentin Lategan MMM | 2005 |
| 2006 | WO1 "Ampie" Vorster | 2011 |
| 2011 | MWO Vilikazi | Present |

## Regimental Headquarters

The regimental headquarters of the DLI has been declared as a National Monument.
* East Wing of the Drill Hall
* Durban Light Infantry (DLI) HQ entrance detail of logo, Durban
* RDLI Bowling Club Entrance
* DLI Logo Window - Sgts Mess
* DLI Consecrated Flag
* DLI Clock Tower
* DLI Clock Tower Plaque

## Peacekeeping deployments and training

The Regiment is being deployed in Africa, Burundi, DRC; in support of the United Nations and African Union mandate
All members of the Regiment are volunteers, with employment in the civilian roles, they fulfil their responsibilities and duties on top of their duties and responsibilities to their Families and Employers. An enormous commitment to the safety and security of the Republic of South Africa.
Training is mandatory with the current requirements of Equality and Equity in line with the SANDF Policy. The duration of training places an enormous pressure on members to get Employers to relieve them to attend the courses and training exercises.

## Regimental history

Martin, Lieut Col A.C. MC VD BA (Cape) Hon.PhD (Natal) (1969). Durban Light Infantry: The History of the Durban Light Infantry Incorporating that of the Sixth South African Infantry, 1915 to 1917. DLI Headquarter Board.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) was published in 1969. It is out of print.
An illustrated history of the 150 years of the Regiment has been prepared by Prof. Brian Kearney, Mr Dave Matthews and Lieut Col "Bill" Olivier SM MMM JCD (Retd.). The book is being sold by the Headquarters Board.

## Affiliations

* United Kingdom – The Rifle Brigade 1920.
* United Kingdom – The Royal Green Jackets RGJ 1966