Transvaal Horse Artillery The Transvaal Horse Artillery ( usually abbreviated to THA ) is an artillery 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 . It is part of the South African Army Artillery Formation . The Transvaal Horse Artillery is currently located in Johannesburg . The main ordnance of the regiment is the G6 Self - propelled 155mm Gun / Howitzer . The THA consists of four batteries : Regimental Headquarters Battery , 7 Battery , 8 Battery and 9 Battery . History . Origins . The Transvaal Horse Artillery was formed on 17 March 1904 as " Lys ' Volunteer Corps " ( after its first commanding officer , Major Godfrey Lys ) and was a regiment dependent on horse transport from the start . The regiment ' s name was changed six months later to the " Transvaal Horse Artillery Volunteers " , which it retained until 1911 , when the present name was adopted . In 1913 , the unit was embodied in the Citizen Force of the new Union Defence Forces as the " 7th Citizen Battery ( THA ) " . World War I . The regiment was part of the Northern Force sent to invade ( the then ) German South West Africa at the outbreak World War I . It first saw action in September 1914 at Sandfontein and later distinguished itself at Riet and Namutoni . Volunteers from the Transvaal Horse Artillery also later fought as part of the South African Heavy Artillery in Palestine , Egypt and Europe . Inter - War . In the inter - war period the regiment grew from a single battery to a three battery brigade ; it was also mechanised by the introduction of trucks . During the 1922 strike the THA took part in the Battle of Brixton Bridge and in the clearing of Fordsburg . The unit was renumbered " 3rd " in 1926 , and reverted to the name " Transvaal Horse Artillery " in 1932 . On the outbreak of World War II in 1939 , it became the " 3rd Field Brigade ( THA ) " . World War II . During World War II , the THA first saw action against the Italians in Abyssinia . The regiment ' s most memorable action during the war was during the battle of Sidi Rezegh in the Western Desert on 23 November 1941 . As a part of 5 South African Infantry Brigade Group , the THA suffered considerable losses during heavy action which saw it firing over open sights at the panzer s of the Afrika Korps . After the collapse of Tobruk in June 1942 , the regiment lost its headquarters unit as well as its 8th and 9th batteries , except for one troop of 8th Battery . This troop , together with the Coldstream Guards , were the only units to drive out in formation . The remaining ( 7th ) battery of the regiment was first attached to 7 Field Regiment and took part in the fighting at El Alamein in October 1942 . It subsequently joined 4 / 22nd Field Regiment , South African Artillery and saw action throughout the Italian Campaign . Post - War . From 1960 to 1968 , the THA was affiliated to the University of the Witwatersrand and was known as the " Witwatersrand University Regiment " . South African Border War . During the post - war period , the regiment was often mobilised to take part in South Africa ' s Border War , including :