South African First City Regiment

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=First City Regiment


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dates= 1875 - Present
country= South Africa
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branch=Army
type= Line Infantry
role=Light Infantry
size=One battalion
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garrison=
garrison_label=Regimental Centre
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patron=
motto="Virtute et opera" (By Virtue and Deeds)
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battles=
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anniversaries=
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current_commander=
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ceremonial_chief=
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colonel_of_the_regiment=
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identification_symbol=
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identification_symbol_2= [http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb309/hammersfan_01/Tartans/GrahamofMontrose.gifGraham of Montrose]
identification_symbol_2_label=Tartan

First City (abbreviated to FC) is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.

History

The regiment was formed in Grahamstown in 1875, in anticipation of a war with the Xhosas in the Transkeiarea, and named the "First City of Grahamstown Volunteers" (FCV).

The FCV fought in the 9th Frontier War (1877-1878) and the Basutoland Gun War (1880-1881). It later fought in the Bechuanaland campaign (1897), and in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).

On 1 July 1913, the FCV amalgamated with the "Queenstown Rifle Volunteers" and was incorporated into the Citizen Force of the new Union Defence Forces as the "4th Infantry (First Eastern Rifles)". It served in German South West Africa in 1915.

However, in 1924 the "First Eastern Rifles" were renamed the "4th Infantry (First City)". The numerical part of the title was dropped in 1932, making the regiment simply "First City".

In the late 1930s, the regiment adopted Scottish uniform, including the Graham of Montrose tartan.

During World War II, FC served in the Madagascar campaign (1942). On 5 October 1943, First City, South Africa’s senior Scottish unit, was temporarily "married up" with the Cape Town Highlanders to form the FC/CTH which was part of the 12th South African Motorised Brigade of the South African 6th Armoured Division. The “marriage” lasted until 8 May 1945. After completing its training in Egypt, the division landed at Taranto, Italy on 20 April 1944 and was fought exclusively in Italy during its existence. [ [http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/6SAdiv.htm 6 SA Armoured Div ] ] In 1946, the regiment was reconstituted as a component of the country’s part-time forces and in 1952 it was renamed the "The First City Regiment".

From 1954 to 1956, FC was amalgamated with the Kaffrarian Rifles.

The regiment served in the South African Border War in the 1970s and 1980s.

Regimental Symbols

* Badges:
** Cap badge backing (1935- ): Graham of Montrose tartan
** Collar badge: Albany Leopard
** Shoulder title: "First City"
*Headdress: Blue Balmoral bonnet with blue and white dicing, with a red pom-pon in 1924. The regiment’s Highland Company wore a Tam o’shanter without the pom-pon from 1906-1913, while the pipers wore a dark blue Glengarry.
*Tartan: Graham of Montrose. The Highland Company was kilted in 1906, while the officers and warrant officers were allowed to wear trews from 1935 and the whole regiment was kilted in 1940.
* Motto: ‘’Virtute et opera’’.

Alliances

* The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (from 1928 to 1958).

Battle honours

*Gaika-Gcaleka 1877-78
*Basutoland 1880-81
*Bechuanaland 1897
*South Africa 1899-1902
*South West Africa 1914-15
*Madagascar 1942
*Italy 1944-45
*Casino II
*Chiusi
*Florence
*The Greve
*Gothic Line
*Monte Stanco
*Monte Pezza
*Sole/Caprara
*Po Valley

References