The Cape Corps

The Cape Corps

 As early as 1700 the VOC expected slaves and Khoi men to serve in a military capacity when necessary. The Cape Corps therefore, has its origins in the formation of a fighting unit in 1781 known "Corps Bastaard. Hottentotten". (The Dutch classified persons of mixed slave and Khoi heritage by this derogatory label). Their commanding officers were HO Eksteen, G Munnik and J Auret, all connected to Simon's Town. Renamed "Pandours", the Corps fought on the side of the VOC at the Battle of Muizenberg in 1795, during the First British Occupation of the Cape.

In 1796 the British formed the Light Infantry Brigade and the regiment was given the name "Cape Corps" for the first time. Under the Batavian Republic (1803-1806) the Corps was known as the "Hottentot Light Infantry". The Corps laid down their arms after the Second British Occupation in 1806 and marched to Simon's Town, where they joined British forces and were renamed The Cape Regiment.

In 1817 they were re-organised and were once more known as the Cape Corps, comprising of both infantry and cavalry divisions. The infantry disbanded in 1827, but the cavalry served as The Cape Mounted Riflemen on the Eastern Frontier.

The First Battalion of the Cape Corps was raised in Simon's Town in 1915, during WWI. They trained at then former Boer POW camp (the present-day golf course). The Cape Corps distinguished themselves in very heavy fighting. The Battle of Square Hill in Egypt and combat in Palestine are legendary: "Between 19^th and 21 September 1918 after all their White officers and CO's had been either killed or wounded, they fought on under their Colored NO's 'like tigers' in fierce hand-to-hand combat...... After 3 days of hell, they were ordered to retire... these tigers' suffered more casualties than any other unit....

During WWII 45 015 men of the Cape Corps, many from Simon's Town (as can be seen here), served with distinction in East and North Africa. The World Wars saw 41 Cape Corps men decorated for gallantry and 103 mentioned in Despatches.

On 3rd November 1979 Simon's Town honoured the Cape Corps, unveiling a plaque on Jubilee Square.