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 Deo Soli Obtemperamus
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Regiment Dan Pienaar
Founded:
1st June 1976 previously 2nd Battalion Regiment Bloemspruit.
Battle Honours:
None - just border tours.
Colours:
As far as I know we trooped the colours when we received the
freedom of the city of Bloemfontein in 1981. (will verify)
This is an ongoing research project, as items are dug up they will be posted.
Chapters
 Commanders and staff
History of namesake
Insignia
Regimental History
Roll of Honour
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Refrences & Sources
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Commanders and staff |
Kmdt. Downs
Kmdt. E Tordiffe
2ic
RSM
Adj.
Co Clerk
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| History of namesake |
Commander of the 1st South African Division, Major-General Daniel Hermanus Pienaar (popularly known as Dan Pienaar) during World War II, Northern Africa and Italy.
South African Formations of the Second World War
Extract from above link;
The North African Cauldron
"South African formations, organised and equipped along British lines, met with mixed fortunes in the North African campaign. In its first operation, during Operation Crusader, 5 Brigade was destroyed on 23 November 1941, at Sidi Rezegh. The commander of 1 Brigade, Brig Gen Dan Pienaar, operated cautiously for the remainder of the operation, reluctant to incur additional high losses. 2 Brigade was detached to 8 Army throughout, forming the garrison of the Matruh fortress, while 2 Division, lacking motor transport, was in reserve. The South Africans were understandably concerned that their divisions should fight as whole formations and for the Gazala battles the brigades fought under command of their respective divisions. But further disaster awaited the luckless South Africans. On 21 June 1942, 2 Division, with 4 and 6 Brigadees under command, surrendered at the fall of Tobruk.
1 Division, with 1, 2 and 3 Brigades under command, was able to get away relatively intact and fought well in the defensive battles following 8 Army.s retreat into Egypt. The cautious Pienaar, now commander of 1 Division and increasingly reluctant to risk his troops, lost the confidence of his British commanders. It was felt, a little unfairly, that his division now lacked the necessary aggressiveness and drive for offensive operations. However the division played an important part in the victory at El Alamein."
Some more links to historical anecdotes regarding Genl. Dan Pienaar;
Life on the radar stations:
An operator's view
By Sheilah Lloyd
The South African Knight - Sir Jaap
Extract from above link;
"At the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, Jaap Van Deventer was one of a number of Boer leaders who accepted appointments in the new Defence Force. At the outbreak of World War One he was stationed at Upington being in command of the North West Cape and holding the rank of Colonel. His generation were men who had had to accept great change in their lives but they were also men with a keen sense of humour. There is a delightful story told of a colleague of Jaap.s, Colonel Britz who was instructed by General Louis Botha, the Prime Minister, to put his command on war footing and to report back that he was ready. Britz.s response was in the affirmative but followed by a question .who must he fight - the British or the Germans.. Van Deventer commanded the force which quelled the rebellion under General Manie Maritz forcing them to surrender, a difficult task in that Maritz had been with him and Smuts during their invasion into the Cape Province fourteen years earlier.
General Louis Botha, the Prime Minister then took command of the Defence Force and with the Germans holding the area which is now known as Namibia, South Africa attacked that country. Troops were landed at Walvis Bay whilst Van Deventer travelled overland from Upington with 5000 horsemen leading his men in a well disciplined commando-style operation supported by an efficient support force. The campaign was not easy but with the Germans being both outnumbered and outgunned they finally surrendered. One of the soldiers who took part in the final skirmish of this campaign was Dan Pienaar, who twenty five years later, as Major General Pienaar was to command the 1st South African Infantry Brigade in the North African desert during the second World War."
Books
POLLOCK, A.M.. PIENAAR OF ALAMEIN. 1943. CAPE TIMES. The biography of Major-General Dan Pienaar, a South African officer on the battle fields of Abyssinia and Egypt.
#7697 Malherbe, E.G. NEVER A DULL MOMENT. Reminiscences of his distinguished career as an educationalist, Director of Census & Statistics, as well as Director of Military Intelligence for SA during WW2. Reveals some intimate views of Generals Smuts, Dan Pienaar, Alexander, Evered Poole, and Klopper etc. Timmins. Cape Town 1981.
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| Insignia |
The Shoulder flash can be seen on top of the page.
With Thanks - Steve Seargent
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| Regimental History |
This infantry regiment was formed as 2 Regiment Bloemspruit as an offshoot of Regiment Bloemspruit (Renamed 1 Regiment Bloemspruit, but reverted after 2RBS was renamed.). Subsequently it was decided to rename 2RBS after the famous WW2 general and Free Stater, General Dan Pienaar on the 1/06/1976, thus the unit could begin to form it's own history and traditions. After being disbanded in 1997 the remaining members were incorporated into Regiment Bloemspruit. Sadly the regiment fell foul of fiscal policy and the changing military structure of the new SANDF.
Extract from above link;
"The part-time units, Regiments De Wet (Kroonstad), Louw Wepener (Bethlehem) and Dan Pienaar (Bloemfontein) will be amalgamated with Regiment Bloemspruit by April 1. The name Regiment Bloemspruit will be retained and will be under the command of the Commanding General, Free State Command."
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| Roll of Honour |
The unit has one Honorus Crux on the roll of honour. Delport J C Rfn. 13 September 1978
Here is his Citation:
DELPORT Rfn Johanes Cornelius, (780913) Regt Dan Pienaar, SAI,
Rifleman Delport was a member of a platoon of the Dan Pienaar Regt, which was attached to Regt Bloemspruit from 20 July to 8 Oct 1978, in the 54 Bn section of the border. At 20hOO on 13 September 1978 his platoon was attacked by terrorists near Ushuti Dam while in a temporary base. Two enemy flares fell nearby and were followed by a hail of bullets. Delport crawled out under fire and threw sand over the burning flares until they were extinguished. One of his platoon then panicked, jumped up and ran towards the enemy. Delport ran after him, tackled him and dragged him back to his position. Before they regained their lines Delport was wounded in the back.
The unit also served in numerous deployments in the Border War in SWA/Namibia
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| Refrences and sources |
Steve Seargent
Google.com search pattern "Dan Pienaar"
and my failing memory.
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