The South African Marine Veterans Association is dedicated to the recognition, honour and memory of the South African Marines; a South African military unit that existed from 1980 to 1990. The Association remembers and honours its former members – especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice whilst protecting our country and its people and recognises, with grateful thanks, the valuable services rendered by all the non-Marine support staff. The Association is also dedicated to maintaining the memory of all South Africans who have been killed on land, in the air and at sea in service of South Africa in all previous wars, we thank you for your service to our country.
We shall strive to retain and encourage the memory and history of the Marine Branch of the South African Navy.
The Association aims to build camaraderie esprit de corps - and promotes contact between its members. It also facilitates and encourages the provision of mutual support between all members, who are located in South Africa and all over the world, in the domains of social events, business, historical commemorations and the wellbeing of its members. The Association arranges activities at regular intervals in support of these objectives. This Association is voluntary and accepts donations to assist it in its mission.
We suffered together, we defended each other
Pledging our lives to keep our country safe
When the time comes we will be counted
Our fallen brothers never forgotten
We are marines to the end
Campbell Cooke 2015
The Marine Brigade (as we know it today) was re-constituted in 1979 in order to enable the South African Navy to take a greater part in counter-insurgency operations. A brigade-strength unit was envisaged and was designated as 1 Marine Brigade. However, training and operational units never exceeded one or two battalions in strength. The initial vision was for a fully seaborne amphibious brigade that could be deployed on operations in the southern Angolan and Mozambique regions and ports. However, budget cuts, a greater emphasis on land-based raids into southern Angola by the SADF as well as the strong defensive capabilities of the major Angolan ports led to the original plans being changed. A more limited role role was envisaged, which included developing a force capable of providing beachhead protection to allow the extraction of special forces when required.
Furthermore, the Marines deployed Marine Companies which operated as regular infantry but were also responsible for conducting riverine patrols in the eastern Caprivi of the north eastern Border of South West Africa until 1988. Thereafter their role became that of conducting counter-insurgency operations inside South Africa while small Marine platoon sized units performed harbour protection duties using Namacurra Class Harbour Protection Boats (HPBs) in the major South African harbours.
A limited Marine amphibious landing capability, using Delta boat landing craft from SAS Tafelberg, was retained until the brigade was disbanded.
