Umvoti Mounted Rifles celebrate 150 years
Community members are invited to go along and view the parades as the Umvoti Mounted Rifles march past the various dignitaries in Pinetown on Saturday.
IN celebration of its 150 years of existence, the Umvoti Mounted Rifles will take to the streets of Pinetown this Saturday 17 May for its Freedom of Entry into the City parade.
It all began on 16 May 1864, when a band of settlers, some short, some tall, galloped their horses into Greytown at the behest of the Lieutenant Governor of Natal, Sir John Scott. This was the birth of the Umvoti Mounted Rifles. There were some 45 men in the original small unit under the command of Captain AS Wyndham who was also the magistrate of Greytown at the time. The newly formed unit was known as the Greytown Mounted Rifles.
After a few years the Greytown Mounted Rifles was affiliated with the Natal Hussars. In the years that followed there was a great deal of secession and amalgamation among the small units of Natal and eventually in 1893 there emerged the Regiment as we know it today, being Umvoti Mounted Rifles commanded then by Captain H von Bulow. Among the units that formed Umvoti Mounted Rifles included the Zululand Mounted Rifles based in Eshowe.
In 1913 after the advent of the Union, the Union Defence Force act was passed and this led to changes in the entire Defence Force of the country. Several Regiments lost their identity but the UMR was fortunate in that not only were they able to retain their identity but were strengthened by the inclusion of the Northern District Mounted Rifles and the Zululand Mounted Rifles.
The Regiment has proudly served in various campaigns during the years, in so doing living up to its motto Toujours Pret – Always Ready.
The UMR since 1910 served under command of the Officer Commanding, Natal Command as firstly a mounted regiment on horseback and then, from 1935 as a motorized infantry unit. During World War II, the regiment served as an infantry unit. In 1954 was converted to a tank regiment and subsequently in 1962 the UMR became an armoured car regiment.
The Regiment will be building on its long and illustrious history this May, with parades in Pietermaritzburg and Durban (Pinetown) during a period from 15 to 17 May. The parades will consists of a marching column as well as a motorised column and a equestrian troop.
The parade in Pietermaritzburg will start punctually at 2pm on Thursday 15 May and will proceed down Church Street, where the City Mayor will bestow the Freedom of the City on the Regiment and take the salute as the Regiment exercises it Freedom of the Entry into Pietermaritzburg.
The parade in Durban (Pinetown) will also start punctually at 2pm on Saturday 17 May and will proceed down Kings Road in Pinetown, where the City Mayor will bestow the Freedom of the City on the Regiment and take the salute as the Regiment exercises it Freedom of the Entry into Durban.
Members are invited to go along and view the parades as they march past the various dignitaries in the two city centres.
