We will remember them

Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment holds annual Commemoration and Wreath Laying Ceremony.

April 25, 2016

Melissa Hart 1 minute read

Major (Rtd) Terry O’Halloran gets ready to lay a wreath on behalf of the Witwatersrand Rifles/De La Rey Regiments.

Soldiers fallen in battle were remembered with great respect, last Saturday.

The Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment held its annual Commemoration and Wreath-Laying Ceremony at its regimental headquarters, Fort Bear.

The Wits Week Parade has been held since 1947, to commemorate and honour members of the regiment who have fallen in active service.

Wits Week is always held as close to April 15 as possible, as that was when the regiment (at that stage known as the WR/DLR) was a participant in the Battle of Monte Caprara, in Italy, in 1945.

Two platoons of the regiment, together with the pipes and drums, participated this year and wreaths were laid to honour those who paid the supreme sacrifice.

In attendance was Honorary Colonel Dr John Job SM MMM JCD, Second-in-Command Capt Thabang Tsotetsi, chairman of the Regimental and Family Association Major (Rtd) T P O’Halloran and various other guests.

Also present was Anna Barnard, the widow of the late Barney Barnard, who served with theWR/DLR in World War Two.