The Ingobamakhosi Carbineers (formerly Natal Carbineers) is an infantry unit of the South African Army.

History

Origins

The regiment traces its roots to 1854 but it was formally raised on 15 January 1855 and gazetted on 13 March of that year, as the Natal Carbineers.

With the Union Defence Force

In 1913, the regiment’s two ‘wings’ became known as the First and Second Mounted Rifles (Natal Carbineers) and in 1934 they re-assumed the name 1st and 2nd Natal Carbineers. The following year, they became the Royal Natal Carbineers, a title which remained in use until the country became a republic in 1961.

Present

The regiment has been active since 1994 in internal duties in support of the police as well as border protection. They have also contributed to external peace-keeping missions to inter alia MONUSCO in the DRC.

Name change

In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. The Natal Carbineers became the Ingobamakhosi Carbineers, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia. The new name was decided on to reflect the merging of two proud military traditions. Ingobamakhosi which was a Zulu Regiment in the 19th century and Carbineers to reflect the horse-borne, carbine bearing soldiers that formed the regiment. A loose translation of the new name could be "The King's Own Carbineers".

List of campaign and battle honours

Since its inception, the Natal Carbineers have participated in every campaign in KwaZulu-Natal. Their baptism of fire came during the Langalibalele Rebellion in 1873 where they suffered their first casualties in action in the Drakensberg. Subsequently, during the Anglo-Zulu War, the Carbineers suffered minor losses at the Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879.

South Africa 1879

The Natal Carbineers participated in the invasion of Zululand in January 1879, and on 22 January, 23 members of the Regiment perished in the famous battle of Isandlwana. The unit was subsequently relegated to garrison duties at Landman’s Drift on the Mzinyathi, or Buffalo River.

South Africa 1899–1902

In September 1899, the Natal Carbineers were mobilised for active service in the British campaign to subdue the Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. The Regiment served until October 1900, when the Natal Volunteer Forces were demobilized. Some men continued their service in the Volunteer Composite Regiment until the end of the war in May 1902.

Natal 1906

The Natal Carbineers saw extensive service in the Natal (or Bambatha) Uprising of 1906. From February to July 1906, the Regiment participated in the numerous sweeps and drives through the mountainous terrain of Zululand, as the Natal Colonial forces sought to trap and destroy the elusive ‘rebel’ warriors. The Carbineers were present at the decisive battle at Mhome Gorge on 10 June, where the back of the uprising was broken.

South-West Africa 1914–1915

The Natal Carbineers, then known as the 1st and 2nd Mounted Rifles, were mobilized on 23 August 1914. Both wings saw service in German South-West Africa, while the 2nd Battalion was also involved in the suppression of the short-lived Afrikaner Rebellion of 1914.

East Africa 1940–1941

On 17 July 1940 the 1st (Royal) Natal Carbineers sailed for Kenya as part of the 1st South African Brigade. Their destination was the Italian colonial empire in East Africa. For the next 10 months the Regiment participated in the South African advance through Italian Somaliland and Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), until Italian resistance was broken at Amba Alagi in May 1941.

Western Desert 1941–1943

Following the fall of Italian East Africa in May 1941, the 1st South African Brigade was dispatched to North Africa to confront the joint Italian-German forces in the see-saw offensives across Egypt and Libya. The Carbineers earned numerous individual battle honours between June 1941 and January 1943 when it sailed home for a well-earned leave.

Italy 1944–1945

The 1st Royal Natal Carbineers landed at Taranto, Italy, on 20 April 1944, just in time for the latter phases of the battles for Cassino. From there the Regiment fought its way up the Italian boot, through Rome, until final victory in May 1945.

South-West Africa/Angola 1976–1989

The Natal Carbineers saw service in a counter-insurgency capacity in northern Namibia (South-West Africa) for three months from August 1976, and thereafter in numerous modular deployments over the next decade.

Battle honours list

Insignia

Previous Dress Insignia

Current Dress Insignia

Leadership

Alliances