15 Reception Depot

15 Reception Depot
15 Reception Depot emblem
Active	1939-2002
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa Republic of South Africa
Branch	South Africa Army South Africa Army
Type	Mobilisation Depot
Part of	South African Personnel Service Corps
Garrison/HQ	Wanderers
Motto(s)	Perepi

15 Reception Depot was an administrative unit of the Personnel Service Corps of the South African Army.

History

Origin

15 Reception Depot was activated in September 1939 as the reception depot to service the then Witwatersrand Command.

UDF era and World War Two

The depot operated from the Milner Park Showgrounds and the Wanderers Grounds. The unit was also responsible for the routing and demobilisation of returning soldiers until it was disbanded in December 1945.

SADF era and the Bush War

The unit was reactivated in April 1964 to mobilize white troops in the greater Witwatersrand area. This involved:

• the registering of young white males at schools,
• the issuing of call-up papers,
• confirmation of the recruits arrival and
• the transport of these recruits to various allotted training units,

SANDF era

From 1994, the unit was initially involved in the integration of non statutory forces members into the new SANDF. The first multi racial intakes also occurred in 1994 through the Voluntary Military Service System. By the early 2000s, Commands were no longer responsible for individual recruitment, making Reception Depots essentially redundant.

Insignia

15 Reception Depots heraldic interpretation was:

• The helmet represented the soldier.
• The colours were those of the Personnel Service Corps.
• The upward angle of the white background to a point represented the collecting of recruits.
• The beret badge was a Greek Helmet with the motto "Perepi".