The South African National Defence Force follows the British Army system of awarding battle honours to military units, to recognize the battles and campaigns in which they have fought with distinction. The following is a list of battle honours with descriptions and listing the units for each battle honour:
Description: Cape military and police operations against the Batswana ("Bechuana") from December 1896 to August 1897. Most of the fighting took place in the Langberg mountains. The battle honour was: Bechuanaland 1896–97 (or 1897) Burgher force units which took part were granted their own honours in 1938: Betsjoeanaland 1896 ? Langberg 1897.[41]
Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government[42]
Description: The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought in Egypt between Axis forces (Germany and Italy) of the Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika) (which included the Afrika Korps under Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) Erwin Rommel) and Allied (British Imperial and Commonwealth) forces (United Kingdom, British India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) of the Eighth Army (under General Claude Auchinleck).
Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika ("Gaika") and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.[72]
A campaign, conducted against the Basotho in Basutoland (now Lesotho) from September 1880 to June 1881. The Cape transferred the Basutoland protectorate to Britain in 1884. Burgher force ("commando") units which served in this campaign were granted separate honours in 1938[74]
Description: British and Natal forces invaded Zululand in January 1879 and conquered it after a hard 6-month campaign. The Natal government authorised a battle honour in 1909.[82]
Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government[83]
Description: Natal operations (with Transvaal support) against the Zulu and Zondi between February and August 1906. The Natal government authorised a battle honour in 1908[84]
Description: One of two concurrent campaigns by Cape Colony forces against African subjects who resisted a government police outlawing ownership of firearms. This was conducted against the Xhosa in the Transkei from October 1880 until April 1881.[95]
Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government[96]
Description: From October 1899 until May 1902, British, Cape and Natal forces fought the neighbouring Boer republics, which eventually capitulated. Battle honours were authorised by the British government[101]
Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika ("Gaika") and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.[113]
Description: Operations by British and Cape Colony forces against the Ngqika ("Gaika") and Gcaleka nations on the colony's eastern frontier, from September 1877 to June 1878.[114]
Description: On 20 February 2014 three units were awarded battle honours to be displayed on the unit colours for their participation in the Battle of Bangui in the Central African Republic during March 2013.[189]
Description: The South African Units formed a component of the 1st Brigade force that held a defensive box south of Sidi Rezegh. On 24-25 November 1941, this force repelled a heavy German armoured assault.[192]
Description: On 26-27 July 1942 a detachment of the Carbineers was involved in this subsidiary action in the Alamein defensive battles of July 1942. These series of engagements were pivotal in blunting the eastward rush of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in the wake of the fall of Tobruk in June that year.[192]
Description: This minor engagement on 30 November 1941 was another episode in the Crusader offensive. A small Carbineer component was pitted against an enemy convoy in the vicinity of Sidi Rezegh.[192]
^"Battle of Bardia". Australian Military Units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
^Personal account of battle by Ron Myburgh's (as yet unpublished) memoirs.
^Loughman, R. J. M. (1963). "Chapter 9: The Capture of Bardia". Divisional Cavalry. Wellington, New Zealand: War History Branch, New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012.
^"South Africa: Armed Forces Day: Air Force Base Bloemspruit". African Armed Forces Online. Bloemfontein: African Armed Forces Journal. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014. On Thursday, 20 February, the Chief of the SANDF, General Solly Shoke, awarded Battle Honours to the units that were involved in The Battle of Bangui. The Battle Honours were conferred to 1 Parachute Battalion, 5 Reconnaissance Regiment and 7 Medical Battalion in a ceremony prior to the Armed Forces Day. These units were allowed to march with their Battle Honours for the first time on the Armed Forces Day parade.
^Carver, Michael (1962). El Alamein. Wordsworth Editions. pp. 119, 122, 141. ISBN9781840222203. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
Curson, H.H. (1948). Honours and Colours in South Africa.
Digby, Peter K.A. (August 1993). Poppies and Pyramids:The 1st SA Infantry Brigade in Libya, France and Flanders, 1915–1919 (illustrated ed.). Ashanti Publishing. ISBN978-1874800538.
Smith, H.H. (1998). South African Military Colours 1664–1994. Vol. Part I.
Smith, H.H. (1999). South African Military Colours 1912–1994. Vol. Part II Vol 1.
Smith, H.H. (2005). South African Military Colours 1912–1994. Vol. Part II Vol 2.