Military Oral History: Regiment Oranje Rivier 50 Years

In 2004 the armour regiment of the Western Cape, Regiment Oranje Rivier turned 50 years. The ROR armoured unit was activated in October, 1954. In the 1950s the ROR Armoured Unit (Training) was formed as part of the Army Reserve and continued right into the new South Africa. With headquarters at historic Goodwood Base in Cape Town, the ROR is one of 7 armoured units of the South African Army Reserve. ROR was responsible for the defences of the old Cape Province during the previous dispensation. More than a 100 active reserve soldiers train monthly and for two contiguous weeks during the year to provide critical skill units for the total Army in a variety of specialized disciplines. These include engineering, transportation, postal and other combat service support skills. Many of these soldiers have skills and specialties which are well aligned with their civilian occupations - providing additional benefit to the Army and the community. The rehearsal for their 50 anniversary parade was captured on camera. During rehearsal oral histories where collected regarding their experiences in the bush war and how they have adopted to the new South Africa reserves. For copy of dvd eion@telkomsa.net