Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment Pipes & Drums

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The Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment (formerly the Cape Garrison Artillery) is a reserve air defence artillery regiment of the South African Army.

The first Cape Garrison Artillery (CGA) was raised on 6 August 1859 as the “Cape Volunteer Sappers and Miners” and is currently a very active Reserve Regiment within the Air Defence Artillery Formation (ADA Fmn).

In 1880 the then Regiment served in the Transkei during the Tambookie campaign as the “Cape Town Volunteer Engineer Corps”.

In 1891 the Regiment was re-designated as the “Garrison Artillery and Engineer Volunteer Corps” with Major Vicomte de Montfort as the Officer Commanding (OC). During 1896 the Engineer Volunteer Corps was disbanded, and the unit was re-designated as “Cape Garrison Artillery”.

In October 1899 the CGA was mobilised and served during the Anglo Boer War. One of its officers was captured by Gen C.R. de Wet and was a prisoner of war with Sir Winston Churchill. Documents in the original handwriting of Gen de Wet describing this incident are on display in the Officers’ Mess of the Regiment at De Casteel.