A march for the freedom of our beloved Barberton

The streets of Barberton were once again filled with the thrilling sounds of the bagpipes and drums of the SA Irish, the Transvaal Scottish and the Wits Rifles when they joined forces with Regiment Botha for the annual Freedom of the City Parade.

This tradition dates back to ancient Rome which regarded the “pomerium”, the boundary of the city, as sacred. Promagistrates and generals were forbidden from entering it, and resigned their imperium immediately upon crossing it. An exception was made for victory celebrations called triumphs, during which the victorious general would be permitted to enter for one day only.

Under the republic, soldiers also lost their status when entering, becoming citizens. Therefore, soldiers at their general’s triumph wore civilian dress.

Weapons were also banned inside the pomerium for religious and traditional reasons. Similar laws were passed by other European cities throughout the medieval era, to protect public security and civic rights, even against their own king’s troops.

As a result, soldiers would be forced to camp outside the walls of the city during winter. The Freedom of the City was an honour granted only to troops that had earned the trust of the local populace, either through some valiant action or simply by being a familiar presence.

Today, martial freedom of the city is an entirely ceremonial honour, usually bestowed upon a unit with historic ties to the area, as a token of appreciation for its long and dedicated service.

These prestigious events were established to commemorate the ‘Freedom of the Town’ that was officially granted to Regiment Botha by the Barberton mayor in October 2009.