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2nd South African Infantry Division

October 23, 2023

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.

2nd South African Infantry Division
Active23 October 1940 – 21 June 1942
Disbanded21 Jun 1942
Country South Africa
AllegianceAllied forces of World War II
Branch South African Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Battle honoursClayden's Trench (Sollum): Jan 1942, Gazala: Jun 1942, Tobruk: Jun 1942
Commanders
FirstFrom 23 Oct 1940: Major General IP de Villiers
SecondFrom 26 Jul 1941: Brigadier FH Theron (acting)
FinalFrom 5 Sep 1941: Major General IP de Villiers and from 14 May 1942: Major General HB Klopper
Insignia
Identification
symbol

History Edit

The division was formed on 23 October 1940 with its divisional HQ at Voortrekkerhoogte, South Africa. 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.

Bardia and the Western Desert Edit

The division capture of Bardia was part of the Libyan campaign against Rommel's Afrika Korps from November 1941 to January 1942. They defeated a numerically superior Axis force in a strongly fortified position with a combined infantry and tank force.[1]

Order of battle Edit

21 September 1941[1]

  • 3 S. A. Inf Bde. -
    • Comd. Brig. C. E. BORAIN MC VD
    • Tps.
      • 1 I.L.H.
      • 1 R.L.I
      • 1 KAFF R. (under comd from 1000 hrs 25 Dec. 41)
      • B & C Coys D. M. R.
      • 2 S. A. Fd Coy less one sec.
      • One Sec 10 S. A. Fd Coy.
      • One Pl 4 Bde Sig Coy. Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec.
      • 5 Bde Sig Coy less one pl.
      • 3 S. A. Bde 'Q' Services Coy.
      • Three dets 14 S. A. Fd Amb. (Under comd from D.-1)
    • with in support:
      • One Regt 1 Army Tank Bde.
      • Arty as arranged by C. R. A.
    • Task.
      • To attack BARDIA through perimeter defences as described in Para 6 (a) and in Operation Instruction No. 21 (Appx 'A').
  • NORTHFORCE
    • Comd. Lt. Col. J. BUTLER-PORTER VD 1 R.D.L.I.
    • Tps.
      • 1 R.D.L.I.
      • Sec 2 S. A. Fd Coy.
      • Pl 5 Bde Sig. Coy.
      • Det 16 Fd Amb. Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec.
    • with in support:
    • Tasks.
      • To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces within the perimeter along the gen line of enemy defences from incl 51143960—incl 51554030, in accordance with Operation Instruction No. 22 (Appx 'C'). [5]
  • KINGFORCE
    • Comd. Lt. Col. W. KINGWELL MC D. M. R.
    • Tps.
      • D.M.R. less B. C. & D. Coys and one pl A. Coy.
      • Two Pls 7 S. A. Armd Recce Bn.
      • Det 4 S. A. Fd Coy (Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec.).
    • with in support:
      • One Sqn N. Z. Div Car Regt.
    • Task.
      • To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces along the gen line of the perimeter defences from incl 51973860—excl 51143960, in accordance with Operation Instruction No. 23 (Appx 'D'). [5]
  • SOUTHFORCE
    • Comd. Maj. P. J. JACOBS, 7 S. A. Armd Recce Bn.
    • Tps.
      • 7 S. A. Armd Recce Bn, less one Coy and two pls.
      • Det 4 S. A. Fd Coy
      • Det 14 S. A. Fd Amb. (Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec.)
    • Task.
      • To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces along the gen line of perimeter defences from incl MARSA ER RAMLA 52423868—excl 51973860, in accordance with Operation Instruction No. 24 (Appx. 'E'). [5]
  • RESERVES
    • Comd. Lt. Col. R. J. PALMER, 1 S. A. P.
    • Tps.
      • One Regt 1 Army Tank Bde.
      • 1 S.A.P.
      • Sec 4 S. A. Fd Coy.
      • Det 14 S. A. Fd. Amb.[a]

"Fortress Tobruk" Edit

Main article: Battle of Tobruk (1942)

Surrender Edit

 
Maj.Gen. H. B. Klopper, Commander 2nd SA Inf Div at the surrender of Tobruk. (South African National War Museum)

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.

Order of battle Edit

Initial operational deployment: 2 December 1941 Edit

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 Alexandria and Mersa Matruh. On 11 October, 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:[2]: Appendix 2 

Order of battle: The Fall of Tobruk Edit

Order of Battle as at 20 June 1942[4]: Appendix B 

Theatres of operation Edit

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 Edit

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[4]

Notes Edit

  1. ^ (Sgd) H.B. KLOPPER, Colonel, General Staff. Issued through Sigs and L. Os. Time of signature 2300 hrs.
  2. ^ This brigade was attached to the 1st South African Division after the loss of the 5th Infantry Brigade at Sidi-Rezegh.[3]: 110 
  3. ^ Infantry support tanks

Citations Edit

  1. ^ a b U.S. War Department, WWII (25 July 1942). "The British Capture of Bardia (December 1941 - January 1942): A Successful Infantry-Tank Attack". Lone Sentry. Washington, DC: Military Intelligence Service, Information Bulletin No. 21. p. MID 461. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  2. ^ Orpen, Neil D. (1971). War in the desert. Vol. III. Cape Town: Purnell. ISBN 9780360001510.
  3. ^ Klein, Harry Lt-Col (1946). Springbok Record. Johannesburg: White House.
  4. ^ a b Agar-Hamilton, John Augustus Ion; Turner, Leonard Charles Frederick (1952). Crisis in the Desert, May July, 1942. [With Plates.]. Cape Town.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Bibliography Edit

External links Edit

October 23, 2023
south, african, infantry, division, south, african, infantry, division, infantry, division, army, union, south, africa, during, world, division, formed, october, 1940, served, western, desert, campaign, captured, save, brigade, german, italian, forces, tobruk,. 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 2nd South African Infantry DivisionActive23 October 1940 21 June 1942Disbanded21 Jun 1942Country South AfricaAllegianceAllied forces of World War IIBranch South African ArmyTypeInfantrySizeDivisionBattle honoursClayden s Trench Sollum Jan 1942 Gazala Jun 1942 Tobruk Jun 1942CommandersFirstFrom 23 Oct 1940 Major General IP de VilliersSecondFrom 26 Jul 1941 Brigadier FH Theron acting FinalFrom 5 Sep 1941 Major General IP de Villiers and from 14 May 1942 Major General HB KlopperInsigniaIdentificationsymbol Contents 1 History 1 1 Bardia and the Western Desert 1 1 1 Order of battle 1 2 Fortress Tobruk 1 3 Surrender 2 Order of battle 2 1 Initial operational deployment 2 December 1941 2 2 Order of battle The Fall of Tobruk 3 Theatres of operation 4 Battles actions and engagements 5 Notes 6 Citations 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory EditThe division was formed on 23 October 1940 with its divisional HQ at Voortrekkerhoogte South Africa 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 Bardia and the Western Desert Edit The division capture of Bardia was part of the Libyan campaign against Rommel s Afrika Korps from November 1941 to January 1942 They defeated a numerically superior Axis force in a strongly fortified position with a combined infantry and tank force 1 Order of battle Edit 21 September 1941 1 3 S A Inf Bde Comd Brig C E BORAIN MC VD Tps 1 I L H 1 R L I 1 KAFF R under comd from 1000 hrs 25 Dec 41 B amp C Coys D M R 2 S A Fd Coy less one sec One Sec 10 S A Fd Coy One Pl 4 Bde Sig Coy Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec 5 Bde Sig Coy less one pl 3 S A Bde Q Services Coy Three dets 14 S A Fd Amb Under comd from D 1 with in support One Regt 1 Army Tank Bde Arty as arranged by C R A Task To attack BARDIA through perimeter defences as described in Para 6 a and in Operation Instruction No 21 Appx A NORTHFORCE Comd Lt Col J BUTLER PORTER VD 1 R D L I Tps 1 R D L I Sec 2 S A Fd Coy Pl 5 Bde Sig Coy Det 16 Fd Amb Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec with in support N Z Div Cav Regt less one sqn Tasks To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces within the perimeter along the gen line of enemy defences from incl 51143960 incl 51554030 in accordance with Operation Instruction No 22 Appx C 5 KINGFORCE Comd Lt Col W KINGWELL MC D M R Tps D M R less B C amp D Coys and one pl A Coy Two Pls 7 S A Armd Recce Bn Det 4 S A Fd Coy Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec with in support One Sqn N Z Div Car Regt Task To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces along the gen line of the perimeter defences from incl 51973860 excl 51143960 in accordance with Operation Instruction No 23 Appx D 5 SOUTHFORCE Comd Maj P J JACOBS 7 S A Armd Recce Bn Tps 7 S A Armd Recce Bn less one Coy and two pls Det 4 S A Fd Coy Det 14 S A Fd Amb Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec Task To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces along the gen line of perimeter defences from incl MARSA ER RAMLA 52423868 excl 51973860 in accordance with Operation Instruction No 24 Appx E 5 RESERVES Comd Lt Col R J PALMER 1 S A P Tps One Regt 1 Army Tank Bde 1 S A P Sec 4 S A Fd Coy Det 14 S A Fd Amb a Fortress Tobruk Edit Main article Battle of Tobruk 1942 Surrender Edit nbsp Maj Gen H B Klopper Commander 2nd SA Inf Div at the surrender of Tobruk South African National War Museum 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 Order of battle EditInitial operational deployment 2 December 1941 Edit 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 Alexandria and Mersa Matruh On 11 October 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 2 Appendix 2 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 Brigade b Brig W H E Poole 4th South African Infantry Brigade 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 Middellandse Regiment 3rd South African Infantry Brigade Brig C E Borain MC VD Imperial Light Horse 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry Rand Light Infantry 5th Field Regiment S A Artillery less one battery 6th South African Infantry Brigade Brig F W Cooper 2nd Transvaal Scottish 1st South African Police Battalion 2nd South African Police Battalion 1st Field Regiment Cape Field Artillery Railhead Force Lt Col G E L L Estrange VD Umvoti Mounted Rifles Die Middellandse Regiment Detachment TDS approx 30 I Tanks c 10th Field Company South African Engineering Corps 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade GroupOrder of battle The Fall of Tobruk Edit Order of Battle as at 20 June 1942 4 Appendix B Division troops Die Middelandse Regiment Machine gun battalion 7th South African Reconnaissance Battalion 2nd Field Regiment Natal Field Artillery South African Artillery 3rd Field Regiment Transvaal Horse Artillery South African Artillery 6th Anti Tank Battery South African Artillery 2nd Light Anti aircraft Regiment South African Artillery 2nd Battery Cape Field Artillery Composed of men from Umtata Transkei 4th amp 10th South African Field Companies S A Engineers 4th South African Infantry Brigade 2nd Royal Durban Light Infantry Umvoti Mounted Rifles The Kaffrarian Rifles 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 RegimentTheatres of operation EditThe 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 1942Battles actions and engagements EditThe 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 4 Notes Edit Sgd H B KLOPPER Colonel General Staff Issued through Sigs and L Os Time of signature 2300 hrs This brigade was attached to the 1st South African Division after the loss of the 5th Infantry Brigade at Sidi Rezegh 3 110 Infantry support tanksCitations Edit a b U S War Department WWII 25 July 1942 The British Capture of Bardia December 1941 January 1942 A Successful Infantry Tank Attack Lone Sentry Washington DC Military Intelligence Service Information Bulletin No 21 p MID 461 Retrieved 27 December 2014 Orpen Neil D 1971 War in the desert Vol III Cape Town Purnell ISBN 9780360001510 Klein Harry Lt Col 1946 Springbok Record Johannesburg White House a b Agar Hamilton John Augustus Ion Turner Leonard Charles Frederick 1952 Crisis in the Desert May July 1942 With Plates Cape Town a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Bibliography EditLiddell Hart B H ed 1953 The Rommel Papers London Collins ISBN 9780306801570 External links Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2nd South African Infantry Division amp oldid 1174083142, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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