South African 1st Infantry Division
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The South African 1st Infantry Division was an infantry division of the South African Army during World War II.
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History
The division was formed on 13 August 1940 in South Africa with its HQ at the South African Military College. On 1 January 1943 it returned to South Africa as part of a plan to form two armoured divisions.
The divisional commanders during its existence were:
- From 13 August 1940: Brigadier George Brink
- From 10 March 1942: Major General DH Pienaar
Order of battle
Many different units formed part of the division during its existence. As a representative example of the structure of the division, its order of battle during the Battle of El Alamein (fighting as part of the British 8th Army) can be given:
- I South African Infantry Brigade:
- 1st Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
- 1st Royal Natal Carabineers
- 1st Transvaal Scottish
- II South African Infantry Brigade:
- 1st Cape Town Highlanders
- 1st Natal Mounted Rifles
- 1st/2nd Field Force Battalion
- III South African Infantry Brigade:
- 1st Imperial Light Horse
- 1st Rand Light Infantry
- 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry
- 3rd South African Armoured Car Reconnaisance Regiment
- One Machine Gun Batallion, consisting of:
- B Company, Die Middllandse Regiment
- Regiment President Steyn
- Field Artillery Regiments:
- 1st Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery, South African Artillery
- 4th Field Regiment, South African Artillery
- 7th Field Regiment, South African Artillery
- 1st Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, South African Artillery
- 1st Anti-tank Regiment, South African Artillery
Theatres of operation
The theatres that the division served in were as follows:
- South Africa: 13 August 1940 to 4 November 1940
- At Sea: 4 November 1940 to 11 November 1940
- East Africa: 11 November 1940 to 13 January 1941
- Abyssinia: 13 January 1941 to 8 March 1941
- East Africa: 08 March 1941 to 21 April 1941
- At Sea: 22 April 1941 to 3 May 1941
- Egypt: 3 May 1941 to 18 November 1941
- Libya: 18 November 1941 to 12 December 1941
- Egypt: 12 December 1941 to 30 January 1942
- Libya: 30 January 1942 to 15 June 1942
- Egypt: 15 June 1942 to 01 January 1943
Battles, actions and engagements
The division took part in the following battles, actions and engagements:
1941
- El Yibo: 16 January 1941 to 18 January 1941
- Turbi Road: 24 January 1941 to 25 January 1941
- Gorai: 1 February 1941 to 1 February 1941
- El Gumu: 1 February 1941 to 1 February 1941
- Hobok: 2 February 1941 to 2 February 1941
- Banno: 8 February 1941 to 9 February 1941
- Yavello Road: 15 February 1941 to 15 February 1941
- Mega: 15 February 1941 to 18 February 1941
- Tobruk: 18 November 1941 to 10 December 1941
1942
- Gazala: 26 May 1942 to 21 June 1942
- Mersa Matruh: 26 June 1942 to 30 June 1942
- Defence of Alamein line: 1 July 1942 to 27 July 1942
- Tel el Eisa: 10 July 1942 to 11 July 1942
- El Alamein: 23 October 1942 to 4 November 1942