The Durban Light Infantry is a Motorised Infantry regiment of the South African Army. It lost its status as a Mechanised infantry regiment in 2010 in line with the rationalisation of resources. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

The full history of the regiment is recounted in an exhaustive but vivid and readable two-volume history by Lt.Col A.C.Martin, M.C.,V.D.,B.A.(Cape), Hon Ph.D (Natal). The first volume (368 pages) cover the period 1854-1934, and the second (487 pages) the period 1935-1960. The volumes are illustrated with over 100 photographs and maps.

The Regiment was formed as the D’Urban Volunteer Guard, in May 1854. In 1859 the unit became the Durban Rifle Guard. In 1873 the unit became known as the Royal Durban Rifles. In 1889 the unit became known as the Natal Royal Rifles (Left half Battalion). In 1895 it became the Durban Light Infantry.

On the constitution of the Union Defence Force in 1912, the Unit became the Durban Light Infantry, renamed the 1st Infantry, (Durban Light Infantry). In consequence the Unit was permitted to add to its badge "Primus in Africa", the motto retained by the unit today in recognition of its foundation.

In 1935, King George V conferred the title Royal on two Regiments being the Royal Durban Light Infantry and the Royal Natal Carbineers, as a recognition of their seniority and service.

In 1961 with the formation of the Republic, the title "Royal" was considered incompatible and the Regiment reverted to being the Durban Light Infantry.

At the centre of the 'Regimental Colour' is the badge worn by the Regiment since 1961. It consists of the recognised Infantry Silver Bugle with tassels and a shield with two wildebeest and a crown. The wildebeest are symbolic of the Province, while the crown retained as a traditional device is reminiscent of the title "Royal" bestowed upon the Regiment by King George V in 1935.

The words "Primus in Africa" are superimposed within a scroll.

The crest is composed of a lion passant guardant on three mounds – the centre mound being charged with a pyramid. The lion is symbolic of strength, courage and fortitude. The three mounds are symbolic of the battles fought in World War II – Monte Stanco, Monte Peza and Monte Sole/Caprara. The pyramid is symbolic of the 1941–1943 Egyptian Campaign.

The garland which surrounds the coloured badge comprises the Thistle of Scotland, the Tudor Rose of England and the Shamrock of Ireland – symbols taken from the old colour – and the other two flowers, the Protea, the National flower of South Africa, and the Strelitzia, the flower of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal).

Battle Honours

Awarded to Durban Light Infantry

1. South Africa, Anglo-Zulu War 1879
2. South Africa, Anglo-Boer War 1899–1902
3. Relief of Ladysmith 1900
4. Natal, Bambatha Rebellion 1906
5. South West Africa 1914–1915
6. East Africa 1916–1918
7. Rand Miners' Revolt 1922
8. World War II
   1. Western Desert 1941–1943 (See 1st SA Infantry Division)
   2. Bardia
   3. Gazala
   4. Alamein Defence
   5. Alamein Box
   6. El Alamein
   7. Italy 1944–1945
   8. Casino II
   9. Florence
   10. Gothic Line
   11. Monte Stanco
   12. Monte Pezza
   13. Sole/Caprara
   14. Po Valley
9. South West Africa – Namibia 1976–1994, five tours.
10. Internally in South Africa in support of the SAPS (SA. Police Service) in the following actions;
    1. 1949, 1960, 1961
    2. 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992 (mainly rural areas)
    3. 1994 Elections.
    4. 1996 Elections.
    5. 1999 Elections.
11. 2006 Op in Burundi. Detached members to Standing Army control structures.
12. 2007–2014. Internal operations.

Leadership

From	Colonels-In-Chief	To
1905	Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn KG KT KP GCB GCSI GCMG GCIE GCVO GBE VD TD	1938
1947	HM Queen Elizabeth II	1961
From	Honorary Colonels	To
1903	Maj General Sir George Dartnell KCB CMG	1913
1914	Col the Hon. Sir Matthew Nathan GCMG PC	1939
1940	Brig General GMJ Molyneux DSO VD	1959
1960	Col C Metcalfe SSA JCD ED JP	2004
2005	Col Errol Richardson	2013
2013	Awaiting Nomination	Present
From	Commanding Officers of the Regiment	To
From	OC Durban Volunteer Guard	To
nd	Colonel, the Hon George Rutherford	nd
From	OC Durban Rifle Guard	To
nd	Colonel HJ Meller	nd
1863	Major AW Evans	nd
1866	Capt BW Greenacre	nd
From	OC Royal Durban Rifles	To
nd	Capt Edward Randles	nd
1874	Capt William Randles	nd
1879	Capt PS Flack	nd
1884	Capt JF King	nd
1886	Capt T McCubbin	nd
From	OC Natal Royal Rifles	To
1889	Major T McCubbin	nd
1893	Major HR Bousfield	nd
From	OC Durban Light Infantry	To
nd	Lt Col T McCubbin MG VD	nd
1902	Lt Col J Scott-Wylie MVO VD	nd
1914	Col J Scott-Wylie MVO VD	nd
1914	Lt Col J Dick VD (Second Battalion)	1915
1914	Lt Col RL Goulding VD (First Battalion)	1915
1915	Lieut Col GMJ Molyneux DSO VD (First Battalion)	nd
1915	Col J Scott-Wylie DSO MVO VD	nd
1920	Lt Col GMJ Molyneux DSO VD	nd
1925	Lieut Col JFR Lauth DSO VD	nd
1930	Lieut Col CE Borain MC VD	nd
From	OC Royal Durban Light Infantry	To
1935	Lt Col CE Borain MC VD	nd
1936	Lt Col IW Nolan VD (First Battalion)	nd
1936	Lt Col LGC Bayliss VD (Second Battalion)	nd
1937	Lt Col J Butler-Porter VD (1/2 Battalion)	nd
1940	Lt Col LC Wendt VD (Second Battalion)	nd
1942	Lt Col J Butler-Porter DSO VD (1/2 Battalion)	nd
1943	Lt Col C Metcalfe SSA JCD ED JP (1/2 Battalion)	nd
1946	Lt Col C Metcalfe SSA JCD ED JP (First Battalion)	nd
1946	Lt Col LC Wendt DSO VD (Second Battalion)	nd
1947	Lt Col AC Martin MC VD (Second Battalion)	nd
1950	Cmdt OS Hampson VD (Second Battalion)	nd
1952	Cmdt C Metcalfe SSA JCD ED VD JP	nd
1952	Cmdt OS Hampson VD	nd
1956	Cmdt G Jaaback VD	nd
1961	Cmdt JH Smallwood JCD	nd
From	Durban Light Infantry	To
c. 1961	Cmdt JH Smallwood SM JCD	c. 1969
1969	Cmdt DN Deavin JCD	nd
1974	Cmdt JJ Hulme JCD	nd
1980	Cmdt MJ Adrain MMM JCD	nd
1984	Cmdt DI Moe SM MMM JCD	nd
1989	Cmdt WJ Olivier SM MMM JCD	nd
1995	Lt Col GPD De Ricquebourg MMM JCD	nd
2004	Lt Col Mark J Whitson MMM JCD	nd
2011	Lieut Col PH Bruyns	nd
2012	Lt Col SA Mbuyazi (Suspended)	nd
2012	Lt Col MD Motsamai (Caretaker OC)	nd
nd	Lieut Col Z. Hangana	Present
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To
From	Durban Volunteer Guard	To
nd	G Russell	nd
From	Durban Rifle Guard	To
1861	A Miliett	1862
1862	T Green	1863
1863	WK Packman	1864
1864	A Curle	1866
1866	W Geere	nd
From	Royal Durban Rifles	To
1873	AJ Court	1873
1873	DI Nolan	1876
1876	SB Kemp	1877
1877	W Goodal	1880
1880	J Archibald	1886
1886	H Hatchell	nd
From	Natal Royal Rifles	To
nd	A Forbes	nd
From	Durban Light Infantry	To
1895	RSM A Forbes	1910
1910	RSM AL Pepper	1913
1913	RSM A Eales	1914
1914	RSM A Eales (First Battalion)	1915
1914	RSM WJ Simpson (Second Battalion)	1915
1915	RSM A Eales	1926
1927	RSM G Sime	1931
1932	RSM PH Johnson	1933
1933	RSM CA Carlyle	nd
From	Royal Durban Light Infantry	To
1933	RSM CA Carlyle	1935
1936	RSM CA Carlyle (First Battalion)	nd
1942	RSM LPA Boxhall	nd
1936	RSM JWH McGreavey (Second Battalion)	nd
1942	RSM LPA Boxhall (1/2 Battalion)	nd
1943	RSM NJR Punch (1/2 Battalion)	nd
1946	RSM LPA Boxhall (First Battalion)	nd
1948	RSM JF Potgieter (First Battalion)	nd
1946	RSM J.E. Law (Second Battalion)	nd
1950	RSM W.H. Ward (Second Battalion)	nd
nd	RSM J.F. Potgieter ED	nd
1956	RSM J.J. Wiliemse	nd
1957	RSM C. Krause	nd
1959	RSM A.R. Miles	nd
From	Durban Light Infantry	To
1962	RSM A.R. Miles JCD	1968
1968	RSM S.M.J. Swanepoel JCD	1974
1974	WO1 R.I. Francis PMM MMM JCD	1993
1993	WO1 Mark J. Whitson MMM JCD	1995
1995	WO1 W.J. Smith MMM JCD	1999
2000	WO1 Bobby Freeman JCD	2005
2005	WO1 Quentin Lategan MMM	2005
2006	WO1 "Ampie" Vorster	2011
2011	MWO Vilikazi	Present

The regimental headquarters of the DLI has been declared as a National Monument.

• 
  East Wing of the Drill Hall
• 
  Durban Light Infantry (DLI) HQ entrance detail of logo, Durban
• 
  RDLI Bowling Club Entrance
• 
  DLI Logo Window - Sgts Mess
• 
  DLI Consecrated Flag
• 
  DLI Clock Tower
• 
  DLI Clock Tower Plaque

The Regiment is being deployed in Africa, Burundi, DRC; in support of the United Nations and African Union mandate

All members of the Regiment are volunteers, with employment in the civilian roles, they fulfil their responsibilities and duties on top of their duties and responsibilities to their Families and Employers. An enormous commitment to the safety and security of the Republic of South Africa.

Training is mandatory with the current requirements of Equality and Equity in line with the SANDF Policy. The duration of training places an enormous pressure on members to get Employers to relieve them to attend the courses and training exercises.

Martin, Lieut Col A.C. MC VD BA (Cape) Hon.PhD (Natal) (1969). Durban Light Infantry: The History of the Durban Light Infantry Incorporating that of the Sixth South African Infantry, 1915 to 1917. DLI Headquarter Board.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) was published in 1969. It is out of print.

An illustrated history of the 150 years of the Regiment has been prepared by Prof. Brian Kearney, Mr Dave Matthews and Lieut Col "Bill" Olivier SM MMM JCD (Retd.). The book is being sold by the Headquarters Board.

•  United Kingdom – The Rifle Brigade 1920.
•  United Kingdom – The Royal Green Jackets RGJ 1966

• Record of the Durban Light Infantry