The Rand Light Infantry originated shortly after the South African War when, on the October 1, 1905, the Transvaal Cycle Corps was formed as a volunteer regiment after the British troops had sailed home. Being volunteers the men had supplied their own bicycles and almost immediately experienced their baptism of fire when 24 men and an officer, part of N0.3 section Transvaal Light Infantry, were sent to put down the Bambata Rebellion in Zululand.

On it's return the Cycle Corps recognized the possibility of mechanization and the rear seats of a de Dion Bouton were replaced by a platform and heavy machine gun. This inspired the addition of two more armoured cars creating a motorised fighting unit and this in 1909 led to a change in the name to the Transvaal Cycle and Motor Corps.  

After Union in 1910 and the end of the volunteer movement, the Rand Light 
Infantry got its present title and was organised under the Defense Act as an Active Citizen Force Unit (A.C.F.).  It was first mobilized during the industrial unrest of 1914 to guard the Newlands Subway and the Braamfontein Station using motorcycle mounted dispatch riders.

At the outbreak of World War I all A.C.F. units were called up and the RLI was stationed at the the Booysens Shooting range before leaving for Cape Town and the South West African Campaign on September 7, 1914.  First action in this campaign was at Luderitz Bay on September 26, 1914 and the RLI spent nine months chasing German forces suffering light casualties - two dead and eleven wounded.

The first Kings Colour was presented to the regiment in 1921.

 A year later the unit was involved in the fighting during the mineworkers strike.  Its main task was patrolling duties on the Witwatersrand and casualties were two  dead and three wounded.  

The first regimental colour was presented to the RLI in 1932.

It was in North Africa during World War II that the RLI really carved a name in military annals taking part in front line engagements and earning battle honours at Bardia, Gazala and El Alamein.  Called up in June 1940 the regiment embarked for Egypt a year later, were it was joined by 150 RLI transport personnel from the 1st South African Division in East Africa.  Unit strength was 900 but unhappily 300 of these men were never to return home.

After the surrender of Rommel's Afrika Korps the regiment returned home to be merged with the Duke of Edinburgh's own Rifles.  They were trained in armour, sending reinforcements to the South African 6th Division in Italy.  As an amalgamation of the Duke's, Scottish and RLI it went to Italy as an infantry unit.

In 1947 during the Royal visit to South Africa, a new Kings Colour was presented to the unit.  The RLI received the Freedom of the City of Johannesburg on its 50th anniversary October 1, 1955.

Vincit Qui Patitur

'He conquers who endures'