Natal Mounted Rifles

The Natal Mounted Rifles is an armoured 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 Armour Formation and is based in the city of Durban.

Formation
The original and accepted "Parent / Unit" of the Natal Mounted Rifles is the "Royal D'Urban Rangers" which was formed at a meeting of the public in the town of Durban, at "Boltbee's Hotel" on the 23rd March 1854. Other ante-cedant Units that were then subsequently amalgamated into the NMR since 1854 are as follows: 1. 1854-1869  Royal D'Urban Rangers 2. 1862-1888  Victoria Mounted Rifles 3. 1875-1887  Stanger Mounted Rifles 4. 1865-1888  Alexander Mounted Rifles 5. 1878-1879  Isipingo Mounted Rifles 6. 1873-1888  Durban Mounted Rifles 7. 1884-1888  Umzimkulu Mounted Rifles

In 1888 the units amalgamated into a new unit known as the Natal Mounted Rifles

In 1894 the NMR was split into two units, namely the Border Mounted Rifles and the Natal Mounted Rifles.

In 1913, just prior to World War I the BMR and NMR once more amalgamated and became the 3rd Mounted Rifles ( N.M.R.).

In 1925 the East Griqualanad Mounted Rifles amalgamated into the NMR.

In 1932 another name change, that to the Natal Mounted Rifles.

In 1940, at South Africa,s entry to World War II, the NMR was re-formed into two units, namely: The 1st Bn (V) N.M.R. and the 2nd Bn (V) N.M.R.

In 1945, the two units amalgamated once more, into the Natal Mounted Rifles,and has remained such to this day.

In May 1868 the Regimental Committee of the Durban Mounted Rifles presided by Captain WH Addison held a meeting to discuss the forming of the Natal Mounted Rifles. The formation of the regiment would entail the amalgamation of four Volunteer Units; Royal D’urban Rangers (1854), Victoria Mounted Rifles (1862), Alexander Mounted Rifles (1865) and Durban Mounted Rifles(1873).

Anglo Boer War
The regiment was re-activated in Durban during February and March 1901 for service in the South African War. It was originally called the 2nd Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment but the name was soon changed to Natal Mounted Infantry. The unit was armed and equipped by the Natal Volunteer Department and horsed by the Imperial Remount Department. The first depot was at Dundee, but, on the unit changing its name, this was transferred to Newcastle.

World War II
On 1 July 1913 the Regiment was re-amalgamated with the Border Mounted Rifles, renamed the 3rd Mounted Rifles (Natal Mounted Rifles) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force of the Union Defence Force. In 1932 the Regiment's name was simplified to The Natal Mounted Rifles and in 1934 it was converted to infantry.

In addition to the campaigns in which its various constituent units fought in before the Regiment's formation, the Natal Mounted Rifles served in the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), the Zulu Rebellion (1906–1907), World War I (specifically in South-West Africa from 1914 to 1915), World War II (See 1st SA Infantry Division and South Africa's post-war internal conflicts and "Border War".

Symbols
*Regimental motto: "Just and frank" (from 1888 to 1913) and "Rough but ready" (from 1913 onwards).

Alliances
1. *🇬🇧 - affiliated 9 April 1930 to The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish) 2. Glenwood Boys High School affiliated to NMR on 17 February 1936 3. South African School of Armour affiliated to NMR on 21 March 1997 4. Durban Metro Police Equestrian Unit affiliated to NMR on 25 March 2000 5. South African Air Force No.15 (Helicopter)Squadron, Durban, affiliated to NMR on

Battle honours
1. *South Africa 1879 2. *South Africa 1899-1902 3. **Defence of Ladysmith 4. *Natal 1906 5. *South-West Africa 1914-1915 6. **Gibeon 7. *East Africa 1940-1941 8. * *Dadaba 9. *Western Desert 1941-1943 (See 1st SA Infantry Division) 10. Gazala 11. Springbok Road 12. Paliano 13. Bir Temrad 14. **Best Post 15. **Alamein Defence 16. **El Alamein 17. *Italy 1944-1945 18. **The Tiber 19. **Celleno 20. **Florence 21. **The Greve 22. **Gothic Line 23. **Po Valley 24. El Yibo ( The first action of the NMR in World War II 16-18th Jan 1940 ). 25. South West Africa 1975-1976