First City Regiment First City ( abbreviated to FC ) is an air assault infantry regiment of the South African Army . As a reserve unit , it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit . History . The regiment was formed from the First City Volunteers of Grahamstown that were formed in 1875 in Grahamstown and the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers that were formed in 1860 ( Re - raised 1883 ) in Queenstown and These Regiments were formed due to the unrest on the then Frontier . The QVR and the FCV fought in the Cape Frontier Wars 9th Frontier War ( 1877 – 1878 ) , the QVR fought in the Morosi Campaign ( 1879 ) . FCV fought in the Basutoland Gun War ( 1880 – 1881 ) . The QVR and the FCV later fought in the Bechuanaland campaign ( 1897 ) , and in the Second Boer War | Anglo - Boer War ( 1899 – 1902 ) . On 1 July 1913 , the QVR amalgamated with the FCV and was incorporated into the Citizen Force of the new Union Defence Forces as the " 4th Infantry ( First Eastern Rifles ) " . It served in German South West Africa 1914 – 1915 . However , in 1924 the " First Eastern Rifles " were renamed the " 4th Infantry ( First City ) " . The numerical part of the title was dropped in 1932 , making the regiment simply " First City " . First City is never called First City " Regiment " . When spoken of it is " The " First City . In the mid 1930s , the regiment adopted Scottish uniform , including the Graham of Montrose tartan . During World War II , FC served in the Madagascar campaign ( 1942 ) . On 5 October 1943 , First City , South Africa ' s senior Scottish unit , was temporarily " married up " with the Cape Town Highlanders to form the FC / CTH which was part of the 12th South African Motorised Brigade of the South African 6th Armoured Division . The " marriage " lasted until 8 May 1945 . After completing its training in Egypt , the division landed at Taranto , Italy on 20 April 1944 and was fought exclusively in Italy during its existence . In 1946 , the regiment was reconstituted as a component of the country ' s part - time forces and reformed " First City " . From 1954 to 1956 , FC was amalgamated with the Kaffrarian Rifles , known as First City / Kaffrarian Rifles . In 1956 reverted to First City . The regiment served in the South African Border War from 1977 to 1986 , and was also involved from 1983 until 1994 in Internal Operations . In 2004 it was decided to rebuild First City and by 2006 the Regiment was training its own members as well as members of the Prince Alfred ' s Guard , The Buffalo Volunteer Rifles and Regiment Piet Retief these all being Eastern Cape Regiments . Many members have also been trained in Air Assault . The Regiment has also sent members on UN & AU Peace Keeping Missions to the DRC , Burundi and the Sudan . 2008 saw First City winning the Trophy for the Best Reserve Force Regiment in the SA Army Infantry Formation . The Regiment retained this award for 2009 . The new Blue Glengarry with blue and white dicing has the Maroon tourie to symbolise the Regiments Airborne Roll . ( Worn by Officers & WO ' s ) Regimental Symbols . The Khaki Tam o ' Shanter when worn by Air Assault members has a maroon tourie . ( Worn by S / Sgt / Rfn ) The Officers and WO ' s when in service / Combat Dress wear the light Khaki Balmoral . Battle honours . Outstanding Battle Honour " South Africa 1879 "