Rand Light Infantry

The history of this regiment dates back to the Transvaal Cycle Corps, which was formed in Johannesburg on 1 October 1905 from the Bicycle Section of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment.{{Cite book |last=D. J. Potgieter |first=M. A. |url=http://archive.org/details/standardencyclop0009djpo |title=Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa |others=Internet Archive |year=1973 |location=Cape Town |pages=240 }} A small section of this unit subsequently took part in the suppression of the Bambata Rebellion in Zululand.{{Cite book|title=RLI Guide for Officers|last1=Mulligan|first1=Commandant K.G.E.|publisher=Rand Light Infantry|location=Johannesburg|date=1986}}

After its return from this conflict the unit recognised the possibilities of mechanisation and members of the regiment manufactured three armoured cars, creating a motorised fighting unit. This led to the renaming of the unit in 1909 to the Transvaal Cycle and Motor Corps.

On 1 July 1913 the regiment was renamed the 11th Infantry (Rand Light Infantry) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force of the Union Defence Force. Simultaneously, the unit was converted to a normal infantry regiment. The regiment's Pretoria detachment was transferred to the 12th Infantry (Pretoria Regiment).

During World War I the regiment took part in the South-West Africa, suffering light casualties – only two dead and eleven wounded.

In 1932 the regiment was renamed the Rand Light Infantry.

The RLI was mobilized for World War II in June 1940 and gained fame in North Africa where it took part in many front line engagements and earned battle honours at Bardia, Gazala and El Alamein. (See 1st SA Infantry Division) After the defeat of Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the RLI returned to South Africa and was merged with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles. The remaining members of the regiment were trained in armour, and sent as reinforcements to the South African 6th Armoured Division in Italy.{{cite web|title=Rand Light Infantry|url=http://www.rfdiv.mil.za/docs/RAND%20LIGHT%20INFANTRY.pdf|website=rfdiv.mil.za|publisher=Reserve Force Division, SANDF|access-date=23 October 2014|format=pdf}}

The regiment took part in the South African Border War.{{cite book|last1=Mulligan|first1=Kevin|author-link1=Kevin Mulligan|title=Carry On Regardless|date=March 2009|publisher=Just Done Productions Publishing|location=Durban, South Africa|isbn=978-1-920169-87-9|url=http://www.justdone.co.za/shop/index.php?id_product=39&controller=product|access-date=23 October 2014|archive-date=4 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904064247/http://www.justdone.co.za/shop/index.php?id_product=39&controller=product|url-status=dead}}

The {{abbr|RLI|Rand Light Infantry}} exercised its freedom of entry into Johannesburg on 9 November 2013 as part of the centenary celebrations of the City of Johannesburg with

fixed bayonets, colours flying and drums beating.

• Regimental motto: {{lang|la|Vincit qui patitur}} (He conquers who endures)
• The RLI were allied to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1932. This alliance later fell into abeyance but was resurrected in April 1995, when the regiment became allied with The Light Infantry Regiment{{Rp|22}}
• Regimental March: One and All and Trelawney.
• Regimental slow march: Duke of York and Preobajensky March.
• Regimental double march: Keel Row.

File:SADF and UDF era Rand Light Infantry insignia.jpg

File:SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia.jpg

• {{GBR}} – The Rifles

{{See also|List of South African Battle Honours}}

The RLI has been awarded the following Battle Honours:{{Rp|21}}

South West Africa 1914-1915, Western Desert 1941 – 1943, Bardia, Gazala, El Alamein, Alamein Defence

{{BattleHonour|country=ZAR|Title=Awarded to Rand Light Infantry|South_West_Africa_1914_1915|Western_Desert_1941_43|Bardia|Gazala|El_Alamein|Alamein_Defence}}

{{Post-start|caption=Leadership|float=}}

{{Post-header|post-name=Colonels in Chief{{Rp|40}}}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1906|post-incumbent=Field Marshall, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Connaught {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|KT|GCSI|GCMG|GCIE|GCVO}}|to-date=1942}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1947|post-incumbent=Her Royal Highness, The Princess Margaret|to-date=n.d.}}

{{Post-header|post-name=Honorary Colonels{{Rp|41}}}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1910|post-incumbent=Col Sir William van Hulsteyn {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|KT|VD}}|to-date=1939}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1940|post-incumbent=Col A.D. Viney|to-date=1968}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1971|post-incumbent=Col G.B. Brown {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD|MC}}|to-date=1991}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1992|post-incumbent=Col J.D.Vos {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SM|JCD|40Yr}}|to-date=2012}}-->

{{Post-header|post-name=Commanding Officers{{Rp|42}}}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1905|post-incumbent=Lt Col H.A. Woolf|to-date=1909}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1909|post-incumbent=Lt Col G.H. Hamilton-Dickson {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|MVO}}|to-date=1912}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1912|post-incumbent=Lt Col J.M. Fairweather {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|DSO}}|to-date=1915}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1915|post-incumbent=Lt Col W.J. Thompson {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|DSO|VD}} Croix de Guerre|to-date=1920}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1920|post-incumbent=Lt Col J.H. Blaney {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|DSO|DCM}}|to-date=1922}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1923|post-incumbent=Lt Col W.A. Abbott {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|VD}}|to-date=1925}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1925|post-incumbent=Lt Col W.A.D. Cherrington {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|VD}}|to-date=1927}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1927|post-incumbent=Lt Col H.E. Jackson {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|DCM|VD}}|to-date=1931}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1931|post-incumbent=Lt Col W.J. Endean {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|MC}}|to-date=1932}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1932|post-incumbent=Lt Col A.A. Hayton {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|DSO|VD}}|to-date=1937}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1937|post-incumbent=Col J.O. Henrey {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|VD}}|to-date=1942}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1942|post-incumbent=Lt Col A.C. Thomas|to-date=1943}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1944|post-incumbent=Amalgamated with CTR|to-date=1945}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1946|post-incumbent=Lt Col C.D. Hancock {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|ED}}|to-date=1950}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1950|post-incumbent=Cmdt W.P.F. Clark {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|ED}}|to-date=1955}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1955|post-incumbent=Cmdt G.B. Brown {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD|MC}}|to-date=1962}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1963|post-incumbent=Cmdt R.S. Munton {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD|MM}}|to-date=1966}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1967|post-incumbent=Cmdt B.G. Simpkins {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD30|MM}}|to-date=1969}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1969|post-incumbent=Cmdt J.D. Vos {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SM52|JCD}}|to-date=1975}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1975|post-incumbent=Cmdt A.B. Dalgleish {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD}}|to-date=1977}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1977|post-incumbent=Cmdt J.M. Smuts {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD}}|to-date=1980}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1981|post-incumbent=Cmdt C.E. Story {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD}}|to-date=1983}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1983|post-incumbent=Cmdt Kevin G.E. Mulligan|to-date=1989}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1990|post-incumbent=Cmdt B Durham|to-date=1991}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1992|post-incumbent=Lt Col S.J.Vos {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|MMM|JCD}}|to-date=2002}}

{{Post-member|from-date=2003|post-incumbent=Lt Col Haydon Goument {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD}}|to-date=2005}}

{{Post-member|from-date=2005|post-incumbent=Lt Col John Mellitchey {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|DWD}}|to-date=2016}}

{{Post-header|post-name=Regimental Sergeants Major{{Rp|42–43}}}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1906|post-incumbent=RSM E. Evans|to-date=1910}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1911|post-incumbent=H.A.E. Hall|to-date=1914}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1914|post-incumbent=S. Piggott|to-date=1917}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1918|post-incumbent=A.H. Miller|to-date=1923}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1924|post-incumbent=J.S. Porter|to-date=1925}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1925|post-incumbent=D. Suttie|to-date=1925}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1925|post-incumbent=R.G.B. Heydenrych|to-date=1928}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1929|post-incumbent=H.R. Lahner|to-date=1942}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1942|post-incumbent=G. Trobridge|to-date=1943}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1944|post-incumbent=Amalgamated with CTR|to-date=1945}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1946|post-incumbent=G.C. Webb|to-date=1947}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1948|post-incumbent=V. Dove|to-date=1951}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1952|post-incumbent=D.N. Rathbone|to-date=1962}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1963|post-incumbent=E.L. Hansen|to-date=1964}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1964|post-incumbent=WO1 J.H. Honey|to-date=1967}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1968|post-incumbent=WO1 J.L. Keene {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|PMM|JCD}}|to-date=1979}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1980|post-incumbent=WO1 S. Rogoff {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|JCD}}|to-date=1984}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1985|post-incumbent=WO1 N.P. Wegener|to-date=1989.}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1990|post-incumbent=WO1 PHR Wells {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|MMM|JCD}}|to-date=2008}}

{{Post-end}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.randlightinfantry.co.za/index.html|title=RLI Webpage}}
• [http://www.justdone.co.za/roh/main.php?page=List_People&UnitAbv=RLI RLI Roll of Honour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234145/http://www.justdone.co.za/roh/main.php?page=List_People&UnitAbv=RLI |date=3 March 2016 }}
• {{cite web|url=http://1rli.wordpress.com/|title=Rand Light Infantry Blog}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rand.Light.Infantry|title=RLI Facebook group|publisher=FaceBook}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/|title=British Army|publisher=UK Ministry of Defence}}

{{portal|South Africa}}

{{SA Army Units}}

{{Greater Johannesburg|mil}}

Category:Infantry regiments of South Africa

Category:Military units and formations in Johannesburg

Category:Military units and formations established in 1932

Category:Military units and formations of South Africa in World War I

Category:Regiments of South Africa in World War II

Category:Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War