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[1][2]: 43 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,[3] he changed it back again to General of the Gunners.[4]: 3
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'sLong 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.
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
96 was awarded to WO1 D Moleko, but he could not attend the investituree on 8 August 2008 and in 2009 another certificate was printed for him with another number.
^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.
