Some Modern South African Army Heraldry

[Marcus Karlsson]

The SA Army has undergone organisatorial reorganisation in recent years. With this followed som new Heraldry (and rejuse of som old). I will look here at some of it, excluding the Schools which has their own tread.

Pictures from the official SA Army site http://www.army.mil.za.



Armour Formation, Pretoria. Higher Staff for the Armoured Units which handles doctrine and training. However it is not an operational staff which will lead fighting Units.

At present the SA Army has two regular Armour Units and seven reserve.

The two Regular Units:

1st Special Service Battalion, based at Tempe, Bloemfontein.


1st South African Tank Regiment, based at Brandhof, Bloemfontein.

The Reserve Units:

Natal Mounted Rifles, based in Durban.


Umvoti Mounted Rifles, based in Durban.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Continuing with the Reserve Armoured Units:




Ligth Horse Regiment, based in Johannesburg.


Pretoria Regiment, based in Thaba Tshwane (formerly known as Voortrekkerhoogte and befor that as Robert's Heights), Pretoria.


Regiment President Steyn, based in Bloemfontein. The Regiment uses the Arms of the namegiving President.


Regiment Oranjerivier, based in Goodwood, Cape Town. The Orange Fess Wavy makes the Arms canting.


Regiment Mooirivier, based in Noordbrug, Potchefstroom.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Artillery Formation, HQ Pretoria.


4th Artillery Regiment.


Artillery Mobilisation Regiment.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Engineer Formation, ThabaTshwane.


1 Construction Regiment, Dunnottar. The Ant is a Wellknown builder aptly choosen as a symbol for this Construction Regiment.


2 Field Engineer Regiment, Bethlehem.


35 Engineer Support Regiment, Dunnottar.


4 Survey and Mapping Regiment, Thaba Tshwane.

[Marcus Karlsson]

1 Military Printing Regiment, Thaba Tshwane.


19 Field Engineer Regiment, Durban. The Arms show a Field Bridge Section forming the Roman Numeral XIX = 19.


3. Field Engineer Regiment, Fort Icapa, Cape Town. The Lion and Annulets are from the Arms of the Cape Province (where they alludes to the Arms of Jan van Riebeck, the first Governor of the Province).


44 Parachute Engineer Regiment, Thaba Tshwane.

[Peter Harling]

Very tasteful and well designed badges IMO! Thanks for showing us Marcus.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Very tasteful and well designed badges IMO! Thanks for showing us Marcus.

Thanks Peter and I agree many of the Arms are very tasteful and well designed.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Signal Fromation, HQ Wonderboom (Pretoria). Cap Badge of the SA Signal Corps based on those of the Brittish Royal Corps of Signals showing Hermes the messanger of the Gods in Greek Mythology. Note the the Map of Africa on the Globe on which Hermes stands.


1 Signals Regiment, Wonderboom.


2 Signals Regiment, Wonderboom.


4 Signals Regiment, Wonderboom.


5 Signals Regiment, Wonderboom.


3 Electronical Workshop, Wonderboom.


United Support Base Wonderboom.

[Marcus Karlsson]

7 Signals Group.


71 Signals Unit.


84 Signals Unit.


11 Field Postal Unit which also is part of the Signals Formation.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Intelligence Formation, Pretoria. The Fox's Mask symbolises the will of the Military intelligence to be cunning like a Fox.


Air Defence Artillery Formation, stab Pretoria.


Air Defence Artillery School. Show a stylized aircraft in the Radar Aim of the Air Defence Artillery.


10 Air Defence Artillery Regiment.