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1 Reconnaissance Commando

Commando

Name history

  • 1 Reconnaissance Commando (until 1996) — this name
  • 1 Reconnaissance Regiment (from 1996)
    Renamed 1 Reconnaissance Regiment in 1996, then disbanded in 1997 into 4 and 5 Reconnaissance Regiments. Corrected 16 Sep 2026 from a previously seeded 1981, which was the blanket Recce redesignation year: 2 and 5 Recce changed then, but 1 Recce kept the Commando title until 1996. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Reconnaissance_Commando_(South_Africa)
23 records in this database

No information on file for this commando.

Eras

Dates Force Role Status
1972-10-01 SADF Special Forces (Reconnaissance) Permanent Force (Regular), some sub-units Citizen Force
The first South African Special Forces unit, established at Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, 1 October 1972. Special Forces operate as their own branch within the SANDF (not part of the Army/Navy). Some Reconnaissance Commandos had Citizen Force (reserve) components alongside the standing Permanent Force structure -- needs further research to determine which applies to a specific record/era. Source

Personnel

23 on the roll

# Last Name First Name Initials Rank Force Regiment Corps Date of Death
29298 Badenhorst Antonie A Corporal SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1977-10-28
29700 Carstens Harry H Corporal SADF 1 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Infantry Corps 1989-04-04
29895 Da Costa Almerindo Mourao A M Staff Sergeant SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1980-02-25
30170 Du Toit Johannes Hendrik J H Lieutenant SADF 5 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Infantry Corps 1978-02-11
30342 Forster Fred Johann F J Candidate Officer SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1978-04-09
30462 Ganhao Manuel Antonio Infante M A I Corporal SADF 5 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Infantry Corps 1978-01-28
30529 Greyling Carel Petrus C P Sergeant SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1980-04-17
30655 Havenga Stefanus Jacobus S J Pioneer SADF 1 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Infantry Corps 1986-08-12
31179 Kruger Michiel Labuschagne (vingers) M L Sergeant SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1977-10-28
31248 Lawrie Geoffrey Allan G A Lance Corporal SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1977-01-01
31601 Marais Stephanus S Lance Corporal SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1974-08-29
31650 Marx Wentzel Christoffel W C Sergeant SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1977-10-28
31662 Mashile Tears T Rifleman SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1990-08-30
31859 Mennigke Cecil Ian C I Lance Corporal SADF 1 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Infantry Corps 1978-01-04
32757 Roxo (paulo) Francisco Daniel F D Staff Sergeant SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1976-08-23
33044 Soeiro Ponciano Gomes Silva P G S Sergeant SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1976-08-23
33260 Thiel Rudolph Ernst R E Rifleman SADF 1 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Infantry Corps 1989-08-02
33558 Van Niekerk Theo Bence T B Corporal SADF 1 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Infantry Corps 1980-06-30
33647 Van Zyl Francois Charel F C Warrant Officer Class II SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1977-10-28
33759 Visser Nicholas Jacobus N J Major SADF 5 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Infantry Corps 1975-10-29
33786 Walker Gary William John (jinx) G W J Lance Corporal SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando 1977-10-28
33795 Wannenburg Frederick Gerhardus F G Sergeant SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1975-12-07
33927 Zeelie Freddie Johannes F J Lieutenant SADF 1 Reconnaissance Commando South African Infantry Corps 1974-06-23

Detached from this unit

Home unit is 1 Reconnaissance Commando, but attached elsewhere per their record.

Name Rank Attached To Date of Death
Ganhao, Manuel Antonio Infante Corporal "D" Squadron Rhodesian SAS 1978-01-28
Mennigke, Cecil Ian Lance Corporal "D" Squadron Rhodesian SAS 1978-01-04
Soeiro, Ponciano Gomes Silva Sergeant 32 Battalion 1976-08-23