19 Field Engineer Regiment SAEC

19 Field Engineer Regiment SAEC
Active	1970 -
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army South African Army
Type	Military engineering
Size	Battalion
Part of	South African Army Engineer Formation Army Conventional Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Lord's Grounds, Durban
Nickname(s)	19 Field
Motto	First in, Last out
Colors	Guardsman Red and Oxford Blue
Engagements	South African Border War Op Mistral (DRC) Op Cordite (Sudan) UN Force Intervention Brigade
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col N.A. Bushula
Insignia
Collar Badge	Bursting grenade with nine flames
Beret Colour	Oxford blue
Engineers Company Emblems
Engineers Beret Bar circa 1992

19 Field Engineer Regiment SAEC is a regiment of the South African Engineer Corps. The unit is based in Durban with the HQ being at Old Fort Military Base, Lord's Grounds . As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

The role of the Engineers is to maintain mobility and serviceability of own forces and counter mobility of enemy forces. Tasks include bridging, water purification, obstacles, demolition, infrastructure repair and development.

History

19 Field Engineer Regiment was established as a Squadron in 1970 directly under Natal Command and was the first Engineer Squadron to be formed in Durban since the Second World War.

The squadron and later the Regiment was called up for a number of border duty camps during the 1970s and 1980s.

During the 1994 election, the unit was called up and deployed in the Eshowe area under command of the Durban Light Infantry.

In 1995 and 1996 the unit participated in training camps in Lohatla.

With the formation of the 'type' formations, including the South African Army Engineer Formation (SAAEF), in 1999, the regiment shifted from the territorial command structure to that of the SAAEF. During 2000 to 2005 a new strategy was put in place and for the first time the unit started to train its own recruited members in Basic Engineer Corps training and Junior Leader training.

One of the highlights during this time was the construction of a permanent 8 bay Single-Double Bailey bridge in the Manguzi area, near the Mozambique border to improve local security.

By 2006 the unit mandate changed. The first detachments of unit members were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as part of the United Nations (MONUC) and AU Peace Support operations. Up until October 2014, the Regiment has undertaken six deployments to the DRC.

The Regiment supplied one member to be part of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade. Lt John Dovey deployed in the post of Combat Demolitions Team Leader as part of the Engineer troop attached to the 6 SAI Battalion.

The motto of the Engineer Corps is “Ubique” which means, Everywhere. The motto of the Regiment is First in, Last out.

Insignia

The unit's insignia is based in the roman numerals XIX (19) from its name.

Leadership

19 Field Eng Regt Leadership

From	Honorary Colonels	To
1991	Col Derek I. Moe SM MMM JCD || Incumbent
From	Commanding Officers	To
1970	Major G. Hogan	1974
1975	Major J. Eager	1978
1979	Comdt H. Nurcombe-Thorne JCD || 1988
1986	Captain Miles le Roux (Pro Tem)	1989
1989	Lt Col Andre Potgieter JCD || 1994
1994	Lt Col P.M. Summers	1996
1996	Lt Col Peter E. Boulle MMM RD || 30 September 2001
1 October 2001	Lt Col "Tex" Westgate MMM JCD || 5 March 2007
6 March 2007	Lt Col Brian Dore	November 2014
November 2014	Lt Col N.A. Bushula	Incumbent
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To
1974	WO1 J. Elbourne	1976
1977	WO1 M.S. Edwards JCD || 1990
1990	WO1 M.S. Streeter SM JCD || 1998
1998	MWO James "Jimmy" Alberts JCD || 2014
2014	Staff Sgt N Sibiya (Acting)	Incumbent