First City is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit. Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... British regiment A regiment is a military unit, consisting of a variable number of battalions - commanded by a colonel. ... The South African Army is the army of South Africa. ... The British Territorial Army is part of the British Army, composed mostly of part-time soldiers paid at the same rate, while engaged on military activities, as their Regular equivalents. ... Seal of the Army National Guard The Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army. ...

History

The regiment was formed in Grahamstown in 1875, in anticipation of a war in the Transkei. It was originally called the 1st City of Grahamstown Volunteers, but later became known simply as the First City Volunteers. Grahamstown from Fort Selwyn Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Flag of Transkei bantustan Political Map of South Africa prior to 1994 Transkei, as of 1978 The Transkei — which means the area beyond the Kei River — is a region situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. ...

The FCV fought in the 9th Frontier War (1877-1878) and the Basutoland Gun War (1880-1881). It later fought in the Bechuanaland campaign (1897), and in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). Cape Frontier Wars also called Kaffir wars or Kafir wars (1779-1879) was 100 years of intermittent warfare and nine different wars between the Cape colonists and the Xhosa agricultural and pastoral peoples of the Eastern Cape, in South Africa. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Bechuanaland Protectorate (BP) was a protectorate established in 1885 by Britain in the area of what is now Botswana. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants British Empire Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Sir Redvers Buller Lord Kitchener Lord Roberts Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Casualties 5000 - 6000 Battlefield casualties, 15,000 disease related. ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1913, the FCV amalgamated with the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers and was embodied in the Citizen Force of the new Union Defence Forces as the 4th Infantry (First Eastern Rifles). It served in German South West Africa in 1915. Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Citizen Force was an integral component of the South African Defence Force and the South West Africa Territorial Force. ... The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is the name of the armed forces of South Africa. ... Flag of German South West Africa German South-West Africa (German: Deutsch-Südwestafrika or DSWA) was a colony of Germany from 1884 to 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South-West Africa, later becoming Namibia. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ...

The title was changed to 4th Infantry (First City) in 1924, and to First City in 1932. In the late 1930s, FC adopted Scottish uniform, including the Graham of Montrose tartan. 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... A tartan is type of pattern, originating in woven cloth, but now used in many materials. ...

During World War II, FC served in the Madagascar campaign (1942), and in Italy (1944-1945). Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants United Kingdom South Africa Vichy France Empire of Japan Commanders Robert Sturges Armand Léon Annet Strength 10,000-15,000 (land forces) 8,000 (land forces)[1] Casualties 107 killed in action; 280 wounded;[2] 620 casualties in total (including deaths from disease) 150 killed in action; 500... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

From 1954 to 1956, FC was amalgamated with the Kaffrarian Rifles. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Kaffrarian Rifles (now the Buffalo Volunteer Rifles (BVR)) is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. ...

FC served in the Border War in the 1970s and 1980s. The name applied to the College Football game played between the University of Wyoming and Colorado State University. ...

Battle honours

• Gaika-Gcaleka 1877-78
• Basutoland 1880-81
• Bechuanaland 1897
• South Africa 1899-1902
• South West Africa 1914-15
• Madagascar 1942
• Italy 1944-45
• Casino II
• Chiusi
• Florence
• The Greve
• Gothic Line
• Monte Stanco
• Monte Pezza
• Sole/Caprara
• Po Valley