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The term "Master Gunner of the Artillery" (Afrikaans: Meesterkanonnier van die artillerie) was introduced in 1982 as the overall head of the artillery. The origin of this term, and it's particular prestige, can be found if you trace the history of the Royal Artillery's Long Gunnery Staff Courses, War time Gunnery Staff Courses (LGSC) amongst others. The crossed guns were originally called Gunnery Instructors (IG)(Officers) with other ranks known as Assistant Instructors Gunnery (AIG) from 1979–1990. In 1990 the nomenclature was reversed and the head of the artillery was henceforth called the General of the Artillery. Holders of the crossed barrels in turn became known as Master Gunners. When the first ADA officer was appointed to the post of General of the Artillery, it was changed to General of the Gunners. When General Koos Laubscher was appointed to this post in 2002, he again changed it to General of the Artillery, but when General Roy Andersen was appointed in 2006, he changed it back again to General of the Gunners.

The identification badge for the General of the Gunners ( General of the Gunners) cannot simultaneously be worn with the Artillery No. 1 badge ( Artillery No 1).

Appointment of Master Gunners

The system of choosing who will be invested with this honour is a complicated one. It is as system administered and controlled by the South African Artillery Corps Council whose chairman is the GOC the Artillery Formation. The Corps Council is nowadays composed of full colonels serving within the Formation, the Formation Warrant Officer, RSMs of Regular Artillery units, The GOC, Regular Officers Commanding, Weapon Systems Managers, Directorate Army Acquisition Project Officers and the Secretary. Any other senior gunner officers, serving in common posts in the SANDF, may be co-opted if the Corps Council so desires.

When new appointments of Master Gunners are discussed, this will take place in closed session (Latin: in camera) attended solely by those already bearing the badge. No minutes of deliberations are recorded and the only thing reported by the closed session is what decisions have been taken.

Investiture of new Master Gunners is held at irregular intervals every few years. This usually occurs in Potchefstroom, the Mecca of the Artillery. At the investiture ceremony, newly minted Master Gunners are presented with a Master Gunner's tie, a Step Out badge, a Mess Dress miniature, an A3 certificate signed by either the General Officer Commanding Artillery Formation or The General of the Gunners.

Appointment to the post of General of the Gunners must be sanctioned by the Chief of the Army, even though the first appointment was signed by the Chief of the SADF and Director: Artillery in 1982.

Prior Appointments

Historically, any gunner who completed the specialist Gunnery Staff Courses were automatically recognised as Master Gunners in the 1970s. The three "long gunnery courses were presented in South Africa in 1965, 1968 and 1972 and were known respectively as courses No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Any graduates of these courses automatically qualified as a Master Gunner and the authority to wear the badge.

In 1984 the then Korpsraad introduced the rules as can be seen on the badge criteria to this day. Typically it works similarly to how a merit medal is awarded, that is that someone writes up a citation, or recommendation in this case, which is then presented for consideration. The citation can be approved or disapproved without any reasons being given either way.

When the GOC is not a Master Gunner himself, the award can only be conferred by the next junior rank who is a Master Gunner.

The Nominal Roll of the recipients of the Master Gunner Badge is proudly displayed within the Headquarters building of 4 Artillery Regiment. Nominally the reason it is there rather than at the Formation Headquarters is for reasons of space. This is credited to the Commander 4 Artillery Regiment, Lt Col Victor Khasapane, and his RSM, WO1 J. Bernie van Zyl MMM.

There is a short list of people who completed the Royal Artillery's Long Gunnery Staff Courses at Larkhill in Great Britain. They are not listed in the nominal roll, but are generally acknowledged to be Master Gunners by right. This list includes Maj Gen Boet Stapelberg, Maj Gen Jan Robbertze, Maj Gen Bob Meintjies, Brigadier "Greyvie" Greyvenstein, Brigadier Leisegang, Brigadier Jack Hawtayne, Brigadier Helm Roos and Brigadier Willie Kotze.

Being invested with the Master Gunner's Badge is a coveted source of pride for all gunners within the South African Artillery fraternity.

Master Gunner

Awarding Authority:	GOC SA Army Artillery Formation
Description
Dress No 1 – 3 and 5C	Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Chrome (Crossed gun barrels)
Dress No 5A	Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Miniature, Chrome (Crossed gun barrels)
Dress No 4	Proficiency SA Army Master Gunner, Artillery, Black on Thatch beige (Crossed gun barrels)	Master Gunner Badge (Qualification and Decoration) Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Crossed gun barrels
Criteria	A serving member of the SAA at the time of the award An RSA citizen of at least seven years standing Successfully completed a long gunnery course OR qualified as indicated in the succeeding sub-subparagraphs Course qualified battery commander or Gun-group Sergeant Major (GSM) Preferably obtained a first class qualification on all his SAA courses Occupied the post of battery commander, or unit 2IC, or artillery instructor (School of Artillery, or Combat Training Centre) or GSM for at least one year His conduct, discipline and bearing must be exemplary and to the satisfaction of the Corps Council He must have a solid reputation as a capable artilleryman amongst his seniors, contemporaries and juniors It will be to his advantage to have participated in a specific operation, or to have served in an operational area for a period of at least three months He must have produced at least one artillery publication which must: Be used in the SAA as reference or training material Be an original piece of work and the result of research and study Be approved by the Corps Council

List of Master Gunners

Generals of the Artillery

• 1 April 1990 (1990-04-01) – 31 May 1992 (1992-05-31): Lt Gen FEC van den Berg SD SM MMM
• 1 June 1992 (1992-06-01) – 2 March 1993 (1993-03-02): Maj Gen PM Lombard SM MMM
• 3 March 1993 (1993-03-03) – 1 June 1993 (1993-06-01): Maj Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM

Generals of the Gunners

• 2 July 1993 (1993-07-02) – 31 May 1995 (1995-05-31): Maj Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM
• 1 June 1995 (1995-06-01) – 25 June 1998 (1998-06-25): Lt Gen PO Du Preez SD SM MMM
• 26 June 1998 (1998-06-26) – 25 April 2002 (2002-04-25): Maj Gen CH van Zyl SD SM MMM
• 26 April 2002 (2002-04-26) – 31 August 2005 (2005-08-31): Maj Gen JA Laubscher SM MMM
• 1 December 2005 (2005-12-01) – 12 May 2015 (2015-05-12): Maj Gen RC Andersen CSSA SD & Bar SM MMM JCD with 30 Yr Clasp
• 10 February 2017 (2017-02-10): Lt Gen JS Mbuli

Notes

1. NSN-18–187–0476
2. Publication Number - ICC 702/2
3. As General of the Artillery

References

1. "South African Artillery Traditions". The Gunners' Association of South Africa. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
2. "Artillery Traditions" (PDF). South African Gunner. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
3. "Profile - Major General Roy Andersen, CSSA, SD, SM, MMM, JCD Chief of Defence Reserves, SA National Defence Force". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
4. "General of the Gunners" (PDF). South African Gunner. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
5. SA ARMY ORDER: CHIEF ARMY CORPORATE SERVICES (SAAO/C ARMY CORP SVC/CER/317/07) MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING OF DRESS REGULATIONS AND DRESS INSTRUCTIONS IN THE SA ARMY, MEN AND WOMEN. South African Army. June 2007.
6. SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY UNIFORM SYSTEM CATALOGUE. Department of Defence (South Africa). 22 June 2011.

• South African Army