Master Gunners of the South African Army
# Master Gunners of the South African Army

The term "Master Gunner of the Artillery" (Afrikaans: Meesterkanonnier van die artillerie) was introduced in 1982 as the overall head of the artillery. The $origin^{:43}$ of this term, and it's particular prestige, can be found if you trace the history of the Royal Artillery's Long Gunnery Staff Courses, War time Gunnery Staff Courses (LGSC) amongst others. The crossed guns were originally called Gunnery Instructors (IG)(Officers) with other ranks known as Assistant Instructors Gunnery (AIG) from 1979–1990. In 1990 the nomenclature was reversed and the head of the artillery was henceforth called the General of the Artillery. Holders of the crossed barrels in turn became known as Master Gunners. When the first ADA officer was appointed to the post of General of the Artillery, it was changed to General of the Gunners. When General Koos Laubscher was appointed to this post in 2002, he again changed it to General of the Artillery, but when General Roy Andersen was appointed in 2006, he changed it back again to General of the $Gunners.^{:3}$

The identification badge for the General of the Gunners ( General of the Gunners) cannot simultaneously be worn with the Artillery No. 1 badge ( Artillery No 1).

## Appointment of Master Gunners

The system of choosing who will be invested with this honour is a complicated one. It is as system administered and controlled by the South African Artillery Corps Council whose chairman is the GOC the Artillery Formation. The Corps Council is nowadays composed of full colonels serving within the Formation, the Formation Warrant Officer, RSMs of Regular Artillery units, The GOC, Regular Officers Commanding, Weapon Systems Managers, Directorate Army Acquisition Project Officers and the Secretary. Any other senior gunner officers, serving in common posts in the SANDF, may be co-opted if the Corps Council so desires.

When new appointments of Master Gunners are discussed, this will take place in closed session (Latin: in camera) attended solely by those already bearing the badge. No minutes of deliberations are recorded and the only thing reported by the closed session is what decisions have been taken.

Investiture of new Master Gunners is held at irregular intervals every few years. This usually occurs in Potchefstroom, the Mecca of the Artillery. At the investiture ceremony, newly minted Master Gunners are presented with a Master Gunner's tie, a Step Out badge, a Mess Dress miniature, an A3 certificate signed by either the General Officer Commanding Artillery Formation or The General of the Gunners.

Appointment to the post of General of the Gunners must be sanctioned by the Chief of the Army, even though the first appointment was signed by the Chief of the SADF and Director: Artillery in 1982.

## Prior Appointments

Historically, any gunner who completed the specialist Gunnery Staff Courses were automatically recognised as Master Gunners in the 1970s. The three "long gunnery courses were presented in South Africa in 1965, 1968 and 1972 and were known respectively as courses No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Any graduates of these courses automatically qualified as a Master Gunner and the authority to wear the badge.

In 1984 the then Korpsraad introduced the rules as can be seen on the badge criteria to this day. Typically it works similarly to how a merit medal is awarded, that is that someone writes up a citation, or recommendation in this case, which is then presented for consideration. The citation can be approved or disapproved without any reasons being given either way.

When the GOC is not a Master Gunner himself, the award can only be conferred by the next junior rank who is a Master Gunner.

The Nominal Roll of the recipients of the Master Gunner Badge is proudly displayed within the Headquarters building of 4 Artillery Regiment. Nominally the reason it is there rather than at the Formation Headquarters is for reasons of space. This is credited to the Commander 4 Artillery Regiment, Lt Col Victor Khasapane, and his RSM, WO1 J. Bernie van Zyl MMM.

There is a short list of people who completed the Royal Artillery's Long Gunnery Staff Courses at Larkhill in Great Britain. They are not listed in the nominal roll, but are generally acknowledged to be Master Gunners by right. This list includes Maj Gen Boet Stapelberg, Maj Gen Jan Robbertze, Maj Gen Bob Meintjies, Brigadier "Greyvie" Greyvenstein, Brigadier Leisegang, Brigadier Jack Hawtayne, Brigadier Helm Roos and Brigadier Willie Kotze.

Being invested with the Master Gunner's Badge is a coveted source of pride for all gunners within the South African Artillery fraternity.

Master Gunner :

| Awarding Authority: | GOC SA Army Artillery Formation | GOC SA Army Artillery Formation |
| - | - | - |
| Description |||
| Dress No 1 – 3 and 5C | Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Chrome (Crossed gun barrels) | |
| Dress No 5A | Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Miniature, Chrome (Crossed gun barrels) | |
| Dress No 4 | Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Black on Thatch beige (Crossed gun barrels) | Master Gunner Badge (Qualification and Decoration) Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Crossed gun barrels |
| Criteria | A serving member of the SAA at the time of the award An RSA citizen of at least seven years standing Successfully completed a long gunnery course OR qualified as indicated in the succeeding sub-subparagraphs Course qualified battery commander or Gun-group Sergeant Major (GSM) Preferably obtained a first class qualification on all his SAA courses Occupied the post of battery commander, or unit 2IC, or artillery instructor (School of Artillery, or Combat Training Centre) or GSM for at least one year His conduct, discipline and bearing must be exemplary and to the satisfaction of the Corps Council He must have a solid reputation as a capable artilleryman amongst his seniors, contemporaries and juniors It will be to his advantage to have participated in a specific operation, or to have served in an operational area for a period of at least three months He must have produced at least one artillery publication which must: Be used in the SAA as reference or training material Be an original piece of work and the result of research and study Be approved by the Corps Council | A serving member of the SAA at the time of the award An RSA citizen of at least seven years standing Successfully completed a long gunnery course OR qualified as indicated in the succeeding sub-subparagraphs Course qualified battery commander or Gun-group Sergeant Major (GSM) Preferably obtained a first class qualification on all his SAA courses Occupied the post of battery commander, or unit 2IC, or artillery instructor (School of Artillery, or Combat Training Centre) or GSM for at least one year His conduct, discipline and bearing must be exemplary and to the satisfaction of the Corps Council He must have a solid reputation as a capable artilleryman amongst his seniors, contemporaries and juniors It will be to his advantage to have participated in a specific operation, or to have served in an operational area for a period of at least three months He must have produced at least one artillery publication which must: Be used in the SAA as reference or training material Be an original piece of work and the result of research and study Be approved by the Corps Council |

## List of Master Gunners

List of Master Gunners :

| Code | Number | Rank | Surname | First Names | Post | Year | Note |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| A40 | 40 | Captain | Kotzé | D.J.J. | OI - School of Artillery | 1972 | |
| A49 | 49 | Commandant | Uys | Piet D. | 2IC - Army College | 1984 | |
| A80 | 80 | Lt Colonel | de Jager | Andre S. | SO1 AOT - Artillery Formation HQ | 2002 | |
| A1005 | 1005 | Brigadier | Leisegang | Carl Sverre | | Before 1970 | Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience. |
| A105 | 105 | Lt Colonel | Croft | L.D. | SO1 Training & Evaluation - School of Artillery | 2017 | |
| A48 | 48 | General | Viljoen | Constand L. | Chief South African Defence Force | 1984 | |
| A24 | 24 | Major | van Wyk | F.J. | DS - Army College | 1971 | |
| A81 | 81 | Lt Colonel | Kruger | Sarel J.F. | Officer Commanding - 4 Artillery Regiment | 2002 | |
| A1004 | 1004 | Brigadier | Greyvenstein | Hendrik Jacobus 'Greyvie' | | Before 1970 | Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience. |
| A3 | 3 | Commandant | van der Walt | P.J. | Officer Commanding - 4 Field Regiment | 1972 | |
| A116 | 116 | Major | Pokolo | M. | SO2 Operations - 4 Artillery Regiment | 2019 | |
| A88 | 88 | Lt Colonel | du Plessis | P.S. | SO1 Force Structure - Artillery Formation HQ | 2008 | |
| A92 | 92 | Major | le Roux | E.C. | SO1 Artillery Project - DAA | 2008 | |
| A36 | 36 | Major | Bouwer | C.W. | OI - School of Artillery | 1972 | |
| A76 | 76 | Lt Colonel | Mynhardt | J.P. | SO1 Ctrl - DPSM | 1999 | |
| A52 | 52 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A95 | 95 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A33 | 33 | Captain | Human | A.C. | Battery Commander - Medium Battery - School of Artillery | 1972 | |
| A114 | 114 | Major | Fouché | Gordon D. | SO2 Artillery Project - DAA | 2019 | |
| A71 | 71 | Colonel | Schalekamp | Maarten A. | Director Artillery | 1996 | |
| A37 | 37 | Major | van Aswegen | Steve | OI - School of Artillery | 1972 | |
| A1003 | 1003 | Major General | Meintjies | Bob | | Before 1970 | Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience. |
| A112 | 112 | Lt Colonel | Kemp | F.F. | SO1 Artillery Project - DAA | 2019 | |
| A77 | 77 | Colonel | van Dyk | Phillip J. | 2IC - School of Artillery | 1999 | |
| A106 | 106 | Major | Joshua | E. | OIRT - School of Artillery | 2017 | |
| A111 | 111 | Lt Colonel | Makhele | M.S. | SO1 Ext Training - Army College | 2019 | |
| A12 | 12 | Major | Veermaak | M.P.H. | Unknown | 1970 | |
| A53 | 53 | Commandant | Bothma | H.G.S. | Officer Commanding - 14 Field Regiment | 1984 | |
| A1007 | 1007 | Brigadier | Kotze | Willie | | Before 1970 | Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience. |
| A15 | 15 | Major | Booyse | P.J.G. | 2IC - 4 Field Regiment | 1970 | |
| A90 | 90 | Lt Colonel | Kritzinger | J.J. | SO1 Artillery Project - DAA | 2008 | |
| A34 | 34 | Captain | Rheeder | J.L. | OI - South African Coloured Corps - Training Center | 1972 | |
| A107 | 107 | Lt Colonel | Tshabalala | M.J. 'Joe' | SO1 Training and Evaluation - School of Artillery | 2019 | |
| A11 | 11 | Captain | van Rensburg | J.J.J. | OI - School of Artillery | 1970 | |
| A108 | 108 | Lt Colonel | Marx | R. | Artillery Branch Commander - Combat Training Center | 2019 | |
| A99 | 99 | WO1 | Molebatsi | T.J. | | 2009 | |
| A51 | 51 | Commandant | de Villiers | D.J. | Chief Instructor - Loc | 1984 | |
| A19 | 19 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A1006 | 1006 | Brigadier | Hawtaynee | Jack | | Before 1970 | Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience. |
| A91 | 91 | Lt Colonel | Krugel | C.T. | SO1 Combat Readiness - Artillery Formation HQ | 2008 | |
| A10 | 10 | Major | van Heerden | J.M. | OI - Army College | 1970 | |
| A2 | 2 | Major | Nell | A.A. | DS - Army Col | 1970 | |
| A98 | 98 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A109 | 109 | Master Warrant Officer | Mokoena | M.P. | Regimental Sergeant Major - 4 Artillery Regiment | 2019 | |
| A46 | 46 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A18 | 18 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A103 | 103 | Colonel | Maso | Jongile G. | Officer Commanding - Department of Defence - Mobilisation Center | 2017 | |
| A86 | 86 | WO1 | Niemand | J. | Regimental Sergeant Major - 4 Artillery Regiment | 2000 | Awarded later on discovery of an error |
| A102 | 102 | Brigadier General | Makina | Khaya | General Officer Commanding - Artillery Formation | 2017 | |
| A101 | 101 | WO2 | Gordon | C. | Battery Sergeant Major - 43 Battery - 4 Artillery Regiment | 2010 | |
| A85 | 85 | WO1 | Botha | F.A.W. | Artillery Formation - Warrant Officer | 2002 | |
| A97 | 97 | Lt Colonel | Steyn | E.C.D. | 2IC - School of Artillery | 2009 | |
| A83 | 83 | Lt Colonel | Schoonwinkel | Dawid B.J. | 2IC - School of Artillery | 2002 | |
| A47 | 47 | WO1 | Graham | Robbie | Unknown | 1984 | Unconfirmed |
| A87 | 87 | Lt Colonel | Cronje | J.J. | SO1 Training & Evaluation - School of Artillery | 2008 | |
| A1008 | 1008 | Brigadier | Roos | Helm | | Before 1970 | Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience. |
| A79 | 79 | Brigadier General | Notshweleka | M.R. 'Abe' | General Officer Commanding - Artillery Formation | 2002 | |
| A22 | 22 | Major | van der Westhuizen | Christoffel Pierre 'Joffel' | Chief Instructor Gunnery | 1971 | |
| A115 | 115 | Major | Galane | K. | SO2 Policy & Planning - Artillery Formation HQ | 2019 | |
| A94 | 94 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A25 | 25 | Major | de Munnick | E.O. | DS - Army College | 1971 | |
| A84 | 84 | Lt Colonel | Claassen | André J. | Chief Instructor - Gunnery (CIG) | 2002 | |
| A44 | 44 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A29 | 29 | Major | Wentzel | W. 'Willie' | OI - School of Artillery | 1971 | |
| A9 | 9 | Major | Gravett | G.W. | SO2 Manpower - GS1 | 1970 | |
| A64 | 64 | Lt Colonel | Phillipson | Leon | SO1 Personnel - D Artillery | 1995 | |
| A21 | 21 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A89 | 89 | Lt Colonel | Khasapane | L.V. | Officer Commanding - 4 Artillery Regiment | 2008 | |
| A100 | 100 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A5 | 5 | Major | Wentzel | Charles F. 'Willie' | Battery Commander - 1 Medium Battery - School of Artillery | 1972 | |
| A28 | 28 | Major | Kotzé | A.A. | SO Research & Developmeent | 1971 | |
| A61 | 61 | Commandant | Coetzee | Theuns J. | Chief Instructor - Gunnery (CIG) | 1990 | |
| A55 | 55 | Colonel | Lausberg | J.L. | Officer Commanding - 10 Artillery Brigade | 1989 | |
| A68 | 68 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A1 | 1 | Colonel | van den Berg | Frans E.C. | Officer Commanding School of Artillery | 1970 | |
| A20 | 20 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A96 | 96 | | -Spoilt Number | | | | 96 was awarded to WO1 D Moleko, but he could not attend the investituree on 8 August 2008 and in 2009 another certificate was printed for him with another number. |
| A72 | 72 | Brigadier General | Roux | Chris H. | General Officer Commanding - Artillery Formation | 2001 | |
| A59 | 59 | Commandant | Johnson | I.R. | SO1 Log - 10 Artillery Brigade | 1989 | |
| A17 | 17 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A60 | 60 | Commandant | van Eeden | F.J.G. | SO1 Training & Evaluation - School of Artillery | 1989 | |
| A74 | 74 | Lt Colonel | van Niekerk | C.J.G. | CIRT | 1999 | |
| A73 | 73 | Colonel | Breytenbach | F.J. | | 1999 | Resigned on 30 September 1997 |
| A13 | 13 | Major | Holm | O.S. | Unknown | 1970 | Served at THA (Doornkop) and Sasolburg Commando (CF). Resigned from Permanent Force in 1966 |
| A113 | 113 | Lt Colonel | Matimbe | Mimi E. | Officer Commanding - 4 Artillery Regiment | 2019 | |
| A93 | 93 | Major | Moraka | J.K. | 2IC - 4 Artillery Regiment | 2008 | |
| A16 | 16 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A1002 | 1002 | Major General | Robbertze | Jan | | Before 1970 | Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience. |
| A32 | 32 | Captain | du Plessis | P.R.B. | Troop Commander - 3 Loc Battery - School of Artillery | 1972 | |
| A69 | 69 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A67 | 67 | Captain | Crafford | J. Daniel A. | SO3 Artillery Project - D Artillery | 1995 | |
| A66 | 66 | Lt Colonel | Laubscher | Carel C. | Chief Instructor - Gunnery (CIG) | 1995 | |
| A65 | 65 | Lt Colonel | Mills | Ralph Brian | So1 Artillery Support Project - D Projects | 1995 | |
| A54 | 54 | Major | Cilliers | J.K. | SO2 Res & Data - CD Planning | 1984 | |
| A39 | 39 | Captain | Bosch | Jack C.D.F. | OI - School of Artillery | 1972 | |
| A70 | 70 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A41 | 41 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A8 | 8 | Major | Stempfie | Hugh R. | SO2 Citizen Force - GS1 | 1970 | |
| A62 | 62 | Commandant | Potgieter | J.W. 'Jackie' | CIRT | 1990 | |
| A31 | 31 | Major | Hurter | Felix Marius 'Baksteen' | OI - School of Artillery | 1972 | Maj Hurter completed the 3rd South African Long Gunnery Course from the 5 Jun-15 Dec 1972 |
| A4 | 4 | Commandant | Lombard | Paul M. | Officer Commanding School of Artillery | 1970 | |
| A75 | 75 | Lt Colonel | Oelofse | A.J.R. | SO1 Force Structure - Artillery Formation HQ | 1999 | |
| A35 | 35 | Major | Puller | D.I. | Training Officer - 1 Field Regiment - Rhodesian Artillery | 1972 | Rhodesian |
| A38 | 38 | Major | de Beer Venter | P.C. 'Chris' | Battery Commander - 1 Medium Battery - 4 Field Artillery | 1972 | |
| A78 | 78 | Colonel | du Plessis | Niek J. | SSO Combat Systems - DCW | 1999 | |
| A58 | 58 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A30 | 30 | Captain | Laubscher | J.A. 'Koos' | OI - School of Artillery | 1972 | |
| A57 | 57 | Major | Franken | P. | 2IC - 4 Artillery Regiment | 1989 | |
| A56 | 56 | Commandant | Swanepoel | G.H.F. | SO1 Training - 10 Artillery Brigade | 1989 | |
| A82 | 82 | Lt Colonel | Jacobs | J.J. | SO1 Combat Readiness - Artillery Formation HQ | 2002 | |
| A27 | 27 | Major | Thomas | J.E. | Battery Commander - 3 Loc Battery - School of Artillery | 1971 | |
| A110 | 110 | Major General | Andersen | Roy C. | CD SANDF Reserves - CSD | 2019 | |
| A23 | 23 | Major | du Rand | J.P. 'Jaap' | Secondment to Rhodesian Artillery | 1971 | |
| A50 | 50 | Commandant | Jacobs | Jacobus G. 'Jakes' | Chief Instructor - Gunnery (CIG) | 1984 | |
| A45 | 45 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A43 | 43 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A42 | 42 | | Unknown | | | | |
| A63 | 63 | Commandant | Holtzhausen | H.G. 'Deon' | Officer Commanding - 14 Artillery Regiment | 1990 | |
| A104 | 104 | Lt Col | Botha | W.M. 'Buks' | SO1 Compliance - School of Artilleery | 2017 | |
| A26 | 26 | Major | van Niekerk | G.J.C. | 2IC - 2 South African Infantry Battalion Group | 1971 | |
| A14 | 14 | Captain | Potgieter | G.I. | Battery Commander - 43 Battery - School of Artillery | 1970 | |
| A7 | 7 | Commandant | Bisschoff | J.J. 'Koos' | CISD - Army College | 1970 | |
| A1001 | 1001 | Major General | Stapelberg | JJ | | Before 1970 | Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience. |
| A6 | 6 | Major | Linford | Delville | SO2 Training - Western Province Command | 1970 | |

### Generals of the Artillery

* 1 April 1990 (1990-04-01) – 31 May 1992 (1992-05-31): Lt Gen FEC van den Berg SD SM MMM
* 1 June 1992 (1992-06-01) – 2 March 1993 (1993-03-02): Maj Gen PM Lombard SM MMM
* March 3, 1993 (1993-03-03) – 1 June 1993 (1993-06-01): Maj Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM

### Generals of the Gunners

* 2 July 1993 (1993-07-02) – 31 May 1995 (1995-05-31): Maj Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM
* 1 June 1995 (1995-06-01) – 25 June 1998 (1998-06-25): Lt Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM
* 26 June 1998 (1998-06-26) – 25 April 2002 (2002-04-25): Maj Gen CH van Zyl SD SM MMM
* 26 April 2002 (2002-04-26) – 31 August 2005 (2005-08-31): Maj Gen JA Laubscher SM MMM
* 1 December 2005 (2005-12-01) – 12 May 2015 (2015-05-12): Maj Gen RC Andersen CSSA SD & Bar SM MMM JCD with 30 Yr Clasp
* 10 February 2017 (2017-02-10): Lt Gen JS Mbuli
