Hillcrest Commando was a light infantryregiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
Hillcrest was a Commando from 1962 to 1983 and was the first English commando in Pretoria. Hillcrest was however a Regiment from 1983 to 2003.
Origin
Hillcrest's two tailed lion
Hillcrest was an exclusive English speaking unit, but on the Minister of Defense's persistence that they should speak both official languages it was decided to " instead of one tail, our lion will have two tails as the Minister insisted". This is a play on words as the Afrikaans word for languages is Tale.
Operations
With the SADF
Area of Responsibility
As a commando, Hillcrest deployed as far north as Rhodesia.
Commando to Regiment
Hillcrest became a Regiment in 1983 whereafter it did border camps in the Far North Command.