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Fact file: 2 SA Infantry Division

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Written by Leon Engelbrecht Wednesday, 17 February 2010 10:50

The division1 was formed on October 23, 1940 with its divisional HQ at Roberts’ Heights (now Thaba Tshwane), Pretoria. Most of the division – two brigades, as well as most of its divisional troops - were captured at Tobruk on June 21, 1942.

The divisional commanders were:

  • From 23 October 1940: Major General IP de Villiers

  • From 26 July 1941: Brigadier FH Theron (acting)

  • From 5 September 1941: Major General IP de Villiers

  • From 14 May 1942: Major General HB Klopper

 

Divisional Troops

 

Artillery

Antitank

  • 2nd Anti-Tank Brigade, SAA 25-Jan-41 01-Jun-41

  • 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, SAA 01-Jun-41 20-Jun-42

  •  

  • Field Artillery

  • 1st Field Brigade, SAA 23-Oct-40 28-Jan-41 renamed

  • 2nd Field Brigade, SAA 23-Oct-40 Jan-41 renamed

  • 1st Field Regiment, CFA, SAA 28-Jan-41 20-Apr-42

  • 2nd Field Regiment, NFA, SAA Jan-41 21-Jun-42

  • 3rd Field Regiment, THA, SAA 20-Apr-42 21-Jun-42

  • 5th Field Regiment, SAA 27-Jan-41 26-May-42

     

Light Antiaircraft

  • 2nd Light Antiaircraft Regiment, SAA Oct-41 21-Jun-42

 

Engineers

Field Companies

  • 10th Field Company, SA Engineers 30-Nov-40 21-Jun-42

  • 2nd Field Company, SA Engineers 30-Nov-40 01-May-42

  • 4th Field Company, SA Engineers 30-Nov-40 21-Jun-42

  • 9th Field Company, SA Engineers 06-Jan-41 16-Jan-41 attached

     

Field Park Companies

  • 20th Field Park Company, SA Engineers 30-Nov-40 21-Jun-42

 

Infantry

Machine Gun

  • Die Middellandse Regiment 23-Mar-41 21-Jun-42

 

Recce

  • 7th SA Reconnaissance Battalion 01-Apr-41 21-Jun-42

 

 

Brigades

 

3 SA Infantry Brigade 05-Nov-40 20-Apr-42

  • 1st Imperial Light Horse 08-Jun-40 01-Jan-43

  • 1st Rand Light Infantry 08-Jun-40 01-Jan-43

  • 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry 08-Jun-40 01-Jan-43

 

4 SA Infantry Brigade 05-Nov-40 21-Jun-42

  • 2nd Natal Mounted Rifles 08-Jun-40 01-Oct-40

  • 2nd Royal Durban Light Infantry 08-Jun-40 21-Jun-42

  • The Kaffrarian Rifles 08-Jun-40 21-Jun-42

  • Umvoti Mounted Rifles 01-Oct-40 21-Jun-42

     

6 SA Infantry Brigade 05-Nov-40 21-Jun-42

  • 1st Pretoria Highlanders 01-Jul-40 01-Nov-40

  • 1st South African Police 17-Jun-40 21-Jun-42

  • 2nd Pretoria Highlanders 17-Jun-40 21-Nov-40

  • 2nd South African Police 17-Jun-40 21-Jun-42

  • 2nd Transvaal Scottish 21-Nov-40 21-Jun-42

     

Higher formations served under

  • HQ British Troops Egypt 06-Jun-41 21-Jul-41

  • X Corps 21-Jul-41 07-Sep-41

  • HQ British Troops Egypt 07-Sep-41 05-Oct-41

  • 8th Army 05-Oct-41 02-Dec-41

  • XIII Corps 02-Dec-41 10-Dec-41

  • XXX Corps 10-Dec-41 27-Mar-42

  • XIII Corps 27-Mar-42 18-Jun-42

  • 8th Army 18-Jun-42 21-Jun-42

     

Formations attached

  • 2 SA Infantry Brigade 26-Nov-41 16-Jan-42

  • 5 NZ Infantry Brigade 02-Dec-41

  • 1 Army Tank Brigade 22-Dec-41 06-Feb-42

  • 32 Army Tank Brigade 14-Jun-42 22-Jun-42

  • 201 Gds Infantry Brigade 15-Jun-42 20-Jun-42

  • 11 Indian Infantry Brigade 15-Jun-42 20-Jun-42

     

Theatres

  • South Africa 23-Oct-40 20-Apr-41

  • At Sea 20-Apr-41 06-Jun-41

  • Egypt 06-Jun-41 22-Mar-42

  • Libya 22-Mar-42 21-Jun-42

  •  

Battles, actions and engagements

  • Clayden's Trench (Sollum) 11-Jan-42 12-Jan-42

  • Gazala 26-May-42 21-Jun-42

  • Tobruk, 1942 20-Jun-42 21-Jun-42

 

 

 

1 Steve Rothwell, http://homepages.force9.net/rothwell/2sa.htm, January 16, 2004, accessed June 6, 2006.

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