1 Medical Battalion Group 1 Medical Battalion Group ( 1 Med ) is a Medical Battalion in the South African Medical Health Services ( SAMHS ) , part of the South African National Defence Force ( SANDF ) . As a reserve force unit , it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit . It is based in the city of Durban in KwaZulu - Natal , South Africa . History . 1 Medical Battalion Group can trace its roots back to the Militia units of old Natal , dating back to 1895 , when the Ambulance detachments of Durban Light Infantry , Natal Mounted Rifles and Natal Carbineers were merged to form the Natal Volunteer Medical Corps ( NVMC ) . Anglo - Boer War and early years – 1914 . 1899 saw the first active mobilisation of the Natal Volunteer Medical Corps in the Anglo Boer War where the Corps served with distinction with Imperial forces including the Seaforth Highlanders , their first association with the Highland Tartan . 1899 saw the first active mobilisation of the Natal Volunteer Medical Corps in the Anglo Boer War where the Corps served with distinction with Imperial forces including the Seaforth Highlanders , their first association with the Highland Tartan . The Militia Act of 1904 saw the change in name to Natal Medical Corps and as such they saw active service in the Bhambatha or Poll Tax Rebellion of 1906 . The Natal Medical Corps was called up again in 1914 at the outbreak of the Rand Strikes until released from service in 1915 with thanks from the Government . The Great War 1914 – 1918 . The Natal Medical Corps was mobilised in 1914 and served in the South West African Campaign where they formed the 6th Stationary Hospital at Swakupmond and manned the hospital ship ' Ebani ' . Another section took part in the battle for Gideon against German forces . At the conclusion of the SWA Campaign the Field Ambulance was attached to the 1st Infantry Brigade and departed aboard " HMT Kenilworth Castle " from Cape Town for training at Royal Army Medical Corps Twezeldown on 10 October 1915 . Following training the unit was shipped to Egypt aboard " HMT Corsican " , reaching Alexandria on 13 January 1916 . As the ' Natal Corps ' of 1st South African Field Ambulance the unit was involved in most major battles including the Somme , Deville Wood , Ypres and Menin Road . The Natal Medical Corps was again mobilised with other Natal Regiments and sent to the Reef during the Rand Strikes of 1922 . In the 1935 the Natal Medical Corps was designated 1st Field Ambulance and in 1939 , and following the motivation of the Officer Commanding , Col . G . D . English , authority to wear the Mackenzie Tartan was granted to the unit . This unique honour was authorised by the Surgeon General and the Union Defence Force , after approval by the British War Office , The Countess of Cromach ( Cromartie ) as Head of Clan , and the Seaforth Highlanders . World War II . All medical units were pooled and new units numbers from 10 upwards . The members of 1st Field Ambulance formed the major component of 10 and 11 Field Ambulances wearing the Mackenzie Tartan behind their cap badges to maintain their identity . 10 and 11 Field Ambulances saw service in the Western Desert and Italy . 17 Field Ambulance which was formed during the war saw service with the Australians and was captured at the fall of Tobruk in 1943 . After the war , the Field Ambulances reverted to their original numbering . Internal unrest in South Africa . The Unit was mobilised in 1959 / 60 as part of Ops Duiker during the Cato Manor Riots . During Ops Letaba in Voortrekkerhoogte in 1961 , helicopters were used for casualty evacuation for the first time , and members of 1st Field Ambulance were told they were in the ' forefront of modern warfare ' . The Border War and the formation of 1 Medical Battalion Group . After the Second World War the activities of the Unit were confined to reorganisation and training camps . The reinstated 17 Field Ambulance did Border duties and conventional operations in Angola in the late 70 ' s . 1st Field Ambulance members were involved in detached duties in Northern Natal along the Mozambique border , and deployed in full strength in 1978 to test the new Field Ambulance system in Thabazimbi . On 1 July 1979 , the South African Medical Corps ( SAMC ) , until that time a Corps of the Army , became the South African Medical Service ( SAMS ) , the fourth arm of the South African Defence Force ( SADF ) . On 6 July 1979 , 1 Field Ambulance was awarded the Freedom of the City of Durban and in this year also provided the Guard of Honour for the first Durban Military Tattoo . IN 1980 , the new Medical Battalion concept was tested during Ex Jumbo with the formation of 11 Medical Battalion , an amalgamation of all field ambulances . This concept was approved and adopted , and in November 1981 , the two Durban Field Ambulances , 1 and 17 , were merged into 1 Medical Battalion Group . Inherited traditions . All the traditions and history of both units were inherited by the new battalion , including the wearing of the Mackenzie Tartan behind the head dress badge . 1 Medical Battalion is considered one of a small number of traditional regiments in the SANDF . In 1990 , 1 Med . adopted traditional Scottish regalia ( or became kilted ) for Officers , Warrant Officers , the Colour Party and The Pipe Band . The Battalion changed from the SAMS Beret to the Glengarry , a unique head dress in the SAMS and adopted a Tartan stable belt for day ceremonial wear . The Battalion reverted to the beret in 2006 .