South African 2nd Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The South African 2nd Infantry Division was an infantry
division
of the army
of the Union of South Africa
during World War II
. The Division was formed on 23 October 1940 and served in the Western Desert Campaign
and was captured (save for one Brigade) by German and Italian forces at Tobruk
on 21 June 1942. The remaining Brigade was re-allocated to the South African 1st Infantry Division.
. On 21 June 1942 two complete infantry brigades of the division as well as most of the supporting units were captured at the fall of Tobruk
.
and Mersa Matruh. On 11 October, the The Kaffrarian Rifles
were detached from the division and deployed to protect the landing fields in the Daba-Fuka-Bagush area. On taking over responsibility for the Frontier area on 2 December 1941 the divisional order of battle, as part of the 8th Army was::
Note: After the capture of the rest of the division, 3rd South African Infantry Brigade and the 1st Field Regiment of the Cape Field Artillery became part of the South African 1st Infantry Division.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the army
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
of the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
during World War II
Military history of South Africa during World War II
During World War II, many South Africans saw military service. The Union of South Africa participated with other British Commonwealth forces in battles in North Africa against Erwin Rommel and his Nazi forces, and many South African pilots joined the Royal Air Force and fought against the Axis...
. The Division was formed on 23 October 1940 and served in the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
and was captured (save for one Brigade) by German and Italian forces at Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
on 21 June 1942. The remaining Brigade was re-allocated to the South African 1st Infantry Division.
Formation
The division was formed on 23 October 1940 with its divisional HQ at Voortrekkerhoogte, South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. On 21 June 1942 two complete infantry brigades of the division as well as most of the supporting units were captured at the fall of Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
.
Surrender
Initial Operational Deployment: 2 December 1941
On 18 September 1941 the Division was re-allocated from X Corps command to falling under General HQ command and were responsible for protecting the railway and water supply lines between AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
and Mersa Matruh. On 11 October, the The Kaffrarian Rifles
Kaffrarian Rifles
The Kaffrarian Rifles is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
were detached from the division and deployed to protect the landing fields in the Daba-Fuka-Bagush area. On taking over responsibility for the Frontier area on 2 December 1941 the divisional order of battle, as part of the 8th Army was::
- HQ 2nd Infantry Division (Maj-Gen I.P. de Villiers)
- One Squadron 6th South African Armoured Car Regiment
- Braforce (Brig. Medley)
- 2nd South African Infantry Brigade2nd Infantry Brigade (South Africa)The 2nd South African Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The Brigade formed part of the South African 1st Infantry Division and was formed on 13 August 1940. It served in East Africa and the Western Desert and was disbanded on 1...
This brigade was attached to the 1st South African Division after the loss of the 5th Infantry Brigade at Sidi Rezeg. Klein p. 110 (Brig. W.H.E. Poole) - 4th South African Infantry Brigade4th Infantry Brigade (South Africa)The 4th South African Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The Brigade formed part of the South African 2nd Infantry Division and was formed on 23 October 1940...
(less one battalion) (Brig. A.A. Hayton) - 4th Field Regiment, S A Artillery
- One Battery, 5th Field Regiment, S A Artillery
- One Troop, 67th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
- One Troop, 68th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
- C and D Companies, Die Middelandse Regiment
- 2nd South African Infantry Brigade
- 3rd South African Infantry Brigade3rd Infantry Brigade (South Africa)The 3rd South African Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The Brigade formed part of the South African 1st Infantry Division and was formed on 13 August 1940...
(Brig C.E.Borain, MC, VD):- Imperial Light Horse
- 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry
- Rand Light InfantryRand Light InfantryThe Rand Light Infantry is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.-History:...
- 5th Field Regiment, S A Artillery (less one battery)
- 6th South African Infantry Brigade (Brig. F.W. Cooper):
- 2nd Transvaal ScottishTransvaal Scottish RegimentThe Transvaal Scottish Regiment is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.-History:...
- 1st South African PoliceSouth African PoliceThe South African Police was the country's police force until 1994. The SAP traced its origin to the Dutch Watch, a paramilitary organization formed by settlers in the Cape in 1655, initially to protect civilians against attack and later to maintain law and order...
Battalion - 2nd South African Police Battalion
- 1st Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery
- 2nd Transvaal Scottish
- Railhead Force (Lt. Col. G.E.L. L'Estrange VD):
- Umvoti Mounted RiflesUmvoti Mounted RiflesThe Umvoti Mounted Rifles is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
- Die Middellandse Regiment
- Detachment TDS (approx 30 "I" TanksInfantry support tanks)
- 10th Field Company, South African Engineering Corps
- Umvoti Mounted Rifles
- 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade Group
Order of Battle: The Fall of Tobruk
Order of Battle as at 20 June 1942- Division Troops
- Die Middelandse Regiment (Machine-gun battalion)
- 7th South African Reconnaissance Battalion
- 2nd Field Regiment, Natal Field ArtilleryNatal Field ArtilleryThe Natal Field Artillery is an artillery regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
, South African Artillery - 3rd Field Regiment, Transvaal Horse ArtilleryTransvaal Horse ArtilleryThe Transvaal Horse Artillery is an artillery regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
, South African Artillery - 6th Anti-Tank Battery, South African Artillery
- 2nd Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, South African Artillery
- 4th & 10th South African Field Companies, S A Engineers
- 4th South African Infantry Brigade4th Infantry Brigade (South Africa)The 4th South African Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The Brigade formed part of the South African 2nd Infantry Division and was formed on 23 October 1940...
- 2nd Royal Durban Light Infantry
- Umvoti Mounted RiflesUmvoti Mounted RiflesThe Umvoti Mounted Rifles is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
- The Kaffrarian RiflesKaffrarian RiflesThe Kaffrarian Rifles is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
- Blake Group (a composite battalion ex 1 SA Div)
- 6th South African Infantry Brigade
- 1st S.A. Police Battalion
- 2nd S.A. Police Battalion
- 2nd Transvaal Scottish RegimentTransvaal Scottish RegimentThe Transvaal Scottish Regiment is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.-History:...
Note: After the capture of the rest of the division, 3rd South African Infantry Brigade and the 1st Field Regiment of the Cape Field Artillery became part of the South African 1st Infantry Division.
Theatres of operation
The theatres that the division served in were as follows:- South Africa: 23 October 1940 to 20 April 1941
- At Sea: 20 April 1941 to 6 June 1941
- Egypt: 6 June 1941 to 22 March 1942
- Libya: 22 March 1942 to 21 June 1942
Battles, actions and engagements
The division took part in the following battles, actions and engagements:- Bardia: 31 December 1941 to 2 January 1942. Some 8,000 Allied prisoners of war were freed and some 6,000 Axis prisoners were taken.
- Clayden's Trench (Sollum): 11 January 1942 to 12 January 1942
- Gazala: 26 May 1942 to 21 June 1942
- Tobruk: 20 June 1942 to 21 June 1942. The number of South African prisoners taken at Tobruk has been recorded as 10,772