Natal Field Artillery

History

Origin

Operations

• the Second Anglo-Boer War
• the South African invasion of German South-West Africa during the First World War
• the Second World War, when the regiment formed part of the South African 2nd Infantry Division and was captured during the fall of Tobruk, part of the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa fighting Erwin Rommel. This occurred in a series of engagements called the Battle of Gazala. One of these engagements was Rommel's attack against Allied forces near Tobruk was on June 13, 1942. The 21st Panzer Division attacked South African positions on Rigel Ridge in the middle of a sandstorm. This was the 6th South African Anti-tank battery of the 2nd field regiment. The South African gunners kept firing until all their guns were destroyed, allowing the withdrawal of other Allied formations. The guns were commanded individually and fired at the Panzers over open sights. The German tanks took up positions behind the ridge with anti-tank guns placed between them. The Germans put down a devastating fire onto the South African positions. One of the columns of Panzers attacked them from the rear, surrounding them and cutting off all escape. Nevertheless, the gunners kept firing until all eight guns had been destroyed. About half the gun detachments were killed and wounded, including the battery commander and many officers. When the battery had been silenced, the enemy tanks approached cautiously and the South African gunners were made prisoners. The entire Natal Field Artillery Regiment was captured and would not be re-formed until after the war. On that day the Germans captured over 3,000 Allied prisoners.

  Other names

Affiliated division

• 8th South African Armoured Division
• * 84 Motorised Brigade

  Leadership

Regimental symbols

• Regimental motto: Armis Arte Audacia.

  Insignia

Battle honours

• South-West Africa 1915

  Freedom of the City