Join us for the . . .
54th Barberton Raid & Remembrance Weekend
26th – 28th September 2025
Itinerary includes:
- Freedom of the City Parade
- Sunset Parade
- Wreath Laying
- Drumhead Ceremony by the SA Irish Pipe and Drum Band
- Spit-Braai & Drinks Hosted by the M.O.T.H. Lone Tree Shellhole
A great opportunity to socialise and engage with fellow Jocks and members from other associations.
All Veterans are most welcome to join us!
email: vicechair@jocks.co.za for more information.
Click here for PDF: Full Program for the weekend and List of Guest Houses / Accommodation in and around Barberton
Barberton military training camp during World War II
Sharin Nader of Barberton Bliss , says she tried to put these pictures together. It was a huge camp that appears to have extended over the area where Dusty Ranch, Dikbas & Greenstone Wildlife Estate are now toward Barberton Mines Fairview.
The garden of remembrance in Barberton is on the site of an old military training camp used during World War 11 before regiments were sent to North Africa. Many regiments had their unit badges made up as plaques with some still the original plaques as built at the time according to the Association.
Regimental plinths in the Barberton Garden of Remembrance were built by units of the 5th South African Infantry Brigade starting in 1942.
The brigade trained in Barberton in 1942 before deployment first to Abyssinia and then to the Western Desert.
The brigade included the SA Irish, 2nd Regiment Botha and 3rd Transvaal Scottish and was commanded by Brigadier General Armstrong.
Those who trained in Barberton could not have foreseen what lay before them in Libya as part of the 1st South African Division advancing to relieve Tobruk.
The Brigade was deployed in a box formation just south of Sidi Rezegh when they were surprised by the forces of Erwin Rommel. He attacked the South African forces from the east (SA Irish) and south. A hundred and ten tanks of 8 Panzer Regiment annihilated the 5th Brigade. The SA gunners comprising the 3rd Field Regiment (THA) and the 7th Field Regiment played an important role and inflicted numerous casualties on the German tanks, firing over open sights. Their performance was described as ‘magnificent’.
Remnants of the 5th Brigade were subsequently taken prisoner at Tobruk.
The Garden of Remembrance is a fitting tribute to the brave men of the 5th Brigade.
by Marius Bakkes [Source]
