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| 3 Field Engineer Regiment Ihawu Field Engineer Regiment | |
|---|---|
 3 Field Engineer emblem | |
| Active | 1926 – present |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Military engineering |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | South African Army Engineer Formation Army Conventional Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort iKapa Military Base, Akasia, Cape Town |
| Nickname(s) | 3 Field |
| Colors | Guardsman Red and Oxford Blue |
| Engagements |
|
| Insignia | |
| Collar Badge | Bursting grenade with nine flames |
| Beret Colour | Oxford blue |
| Engineers Company Emblems |  |
| Engineers Beret Bar circa 1992 |  |
| Abbreviation | IFER |
The Ihawu Field Engineer Regiment (formerly 3 Field Engineer Regiment) is a reserve engineer regiment of the South African Army.
History
Origin
3 Field Engineer Regiment was formed in 1926 as three engineer companies.
World War II
In 1940, 3 Field was mobilized for World War 2 and saw service in North Africa, where it participated in the desert campaign and the Battle of El Alamein. 3rd Field Company was attached to 1st S.A. Division and played an important part in the Division's first operation - the raid to capture El Wak - by ensuring water supplies. The Company served with distinction throughout the campaign in Ethiopia and Abyssinia. In one of the strangest of combined operations, No 1 Section was required to set bangalore torpedoes to blow up the outer and inner barbed wire entanglements protecting Fort Todenyang on the shore of Lake Rudolf.
By 1946 the unit was designated as 3 Field Squadron and along with 1 Field Squadron from Durban, 2 Field Squadron from Port Elizabeth and 8 Field Park Squadron from Cape Town, formed 2 Field Engineer Regiment.
Border War
By 1975, 3 Field was mobilised for service in South West Africa for Operation Savanah, and was in service until withdrawal in 1988.
Post 1994
Since 1994 the regiment maintained a small footprint due to financial restrictions. 3 Field still participates in Exercise Bailey each year.
3 Field celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2006.
Name Change
In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. 3 Field Engineer Regiment became the Ihawu Field Engineer Regiment, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.
Insignia
Previous Insignia
Leadership
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| 31 January 2025 | unknown | Present |
| From | Commanding Officers | To |
| January 1983 | Cmdt J.S. Manning | June 1984 |
| July 1984 | Cmdt R.C. Cameron-Williger | August 1986 |
| September 1986 | Cmdt K.H.W. Sheel | June 1991 |
| June 1991 | Cmdt A.J. Nocton-Smith | Present |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
| 31 January 2025 | Unknown | 31 January 2025 |
References
- Englebrecht, Leon (9 February 2010). "Fact file: The SA Engineering Corps". DefenceWeb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- "South African Unit Profiles".
- "New Reserve Force unit names". defenceWeb. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- "Renaming process has resulted in an Army structure that truly represents SA". IOL. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
External links
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