Vrede Commando

Vrede Commando
Vrede Commando emblem
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Orange Free State Republic Union of South Africa Republic of South Africa Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army  South African Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Vrede

Vrede Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army, forming part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

This Commando was involved in the following:

• The battle of Rietfontein^[1] took place on 24 October 1899 between six commandos of the Free State Army commanded by General A Piet Cronje and a British Flying Column dispatched from Ladysmith under the command of Sir George White.

The Free State forces consisted of the following commandos:

• Harrismith Commando,
• Kroonstad Commando,
• Winburg Commando,
• Bethlehem Commando,
• Vrede Commando and
• Heilbron Commando.

By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed.

By 1912, however previous Commando members could join shooting associations.

By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.

These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.

During this era the Commando was mainly tasked with area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control to the rural police.

The unit resorted under the command of Group 24.

This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.^[2][3] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.^[4]

Leadership

From	Honorary Colonels	To
From	Commanding Officers	To
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To

• South African Commando System