South African Army order of battle 1940
| South African Army | |
|---|---|
| Active | 3 September 1939 – July 1940 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Defence Headquarters | Pretoria, Transvaal |
This page details the South African Army order of battle in 1940, before and after the formation of expeditionary forces.
South African Army – 3 September 1939 – July 1940
[edit]Defence Headquarters: Pretoria, Transvaal[2]
HQ The Castle, Cape Town, Cape Province
- A. Permanent Force[2]
- Cape Detachment, The Special Service Battalion: Cape Town
- No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery: Bamboevlei, Wynberg[e]
- The Coast Artillery Brigade: HQ, The Castle, Cape Town
- 2 Sections of Cape Garrison Artillery designated as Engineers and Signals: Cape Town
- 1st Heavy Battery: Cape Town[b] (Wynard Battery): Table Bay
- 2nd Heavy Battery: Simonstown[b] (Queen's Battery): Simonstown
- 1st Medium Battery: Cape Town[b]
- 2nd Medium Battery: Cape Town[b]
- No. 1 Armoured Train: Cape Town[f]
- The Cape Field Artillery (Prince Albert's Own): Cape Town[g]
- Cape Detachment, The Special Service Battalion: Cape Town
- B. Active Citizen Force[2]
- 3rd Infantry Brigade: HQ Cape Town
- The Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles: Cape Town
- The Cape Town Highlanders (The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn's Own): Cape Town
- The Kimberley Regiment: Kimberley
- 3rd Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Cape Town
- 8th Infantry Brigade: HQ Oudtshoorn
- Regiment Westelike Provinsie: Stellenbosch
- Regiment Suid-Westelike Distrikte: Oudtshoorn
- Die Middellandse Regiment: Graff-Reinet
- 8th Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Cape Town
- 3rd Infantry Brigade: HQ Cape Town
- A. Permanent Force[2]
- 5th Heavy Battery, South African Permanent Garrison Artillery: East London
- 6th Heavy Battery, South African Permanent Garrison Artillery: Port Elizabeth
- B. Active Citizen Force[2]
- 2nd Infantry Brigade: HQ Port Elizabeth
- The Prince Alfred's Guard: Port Elizabeth
- The Kaffrarian Rifles: East London
- The First City: Grahamstown
- 2nd Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Uitenhage
- Die Middellandse Regiment (See 8th Infantry Brigade)
- 2nd Infantry Brigade: HQ Port Elizabeth
HQ Durban, Natal
- A. Permanent Force[2]
- Royal Durban Light Infantry Company, The Special Service Battalion: Durban
- 3rd Heavy Battery, South African Permanent Garrison Artillery: Durban Beach
- 4th Heavy Battery, South African Permanent Garrison Artillery: The Bluff, Durban
- B. Active Citizen Force[2]
- The Natal Field Artillery: Durban
- 'A', 'B' Batteries: Durban
- 'C' Battery: Pietermaritzburg
- 1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa): HQ Pietermaritzburg
- 1st Royal Natal Carabineers: Pietermaritzburg
- 2nd Royal Natal Carabineers: Ladysmith
- The Umvoti Mounted Rifles: Greytown
- 1st Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Durban
- 7th Infantry Brigade: HQ Durban
- The Natal Mounted Rifles: Durban
- 1st, 2nd Royal Durban Light Infantry: Durban
- 7th Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Durban
- The Natal Field Artillery: Durban
HQ Bloemfontein, Orange Free State
- A. Permanent Force[2]
- The Pioneer Battalion: Bloemfontein
- B. Active Citizen Force[2]
- The Oranje Vry Staat Veldartillerie
- 1ste Batterie: Tempe
- 2de Batterie: Bethlehem
- 4th Infantry Brigade: HQ Bloemfontein
- Regiment de Wet: Kroonstad
- Regiment Louw Wepner: Ladybrand
- Regiment President Steyn: Bloemfontein
- 4th Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Bloemfontein
- The Kimberley Regiment (See 3rd Infantry Brigade)
- The Oranje Vry Staat Veldartillerie
HQ Robert's Heights, Transvaal
- A. Permanent Force[2]
- The Special Service Battalion: Robert's Heights[h]
- The Artillery School:[i] Robert's Heights
- The Artillery Depot: Robert's Heights
- No. 2 Armoured Train, South African Permanent Garrison Artillery:[j] Robert's Heights
- B. Active Citizen Force[2]
- 1st Field Survey Company, South African Engineer Corps: Robert's Heights
- 6th Infantry Brigade (HQ Pretoria)
- 1st, 2nd Pretoria Regiment (Princess Alice's Own): Pretoria
- Regiment De la Rey: Rustenburg
- 6th Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Pretoria
- A. Active Citizen Force[2]
- The Transvaal Horse Artillery (A, B Batteries): Johannesburg
- 5th Infantry Brigade: HQ Johannesburg
- The Imperial Light Horse: Johannesburg
- 1st, 2nd Transvaal Scottish: Johannesburg
- 5th Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Johannesburg
- 9th Infantry Brigade: HQ Johannesburg
- The Witwatersrand Rifles: Johannesburg
- The Rand Light Infantry: Johannesburg
- Regiment Botha: Morgenson
- 9th Field Company, South African Engineer Corps: Johannesburg
The Defence Rifle Associations (Commandos)
[edit]- The Cape Defence Rifle Association[2]
- The Transvaal Defence Rifle Association
- The Natal Defence Rifle Association
- The Orange Free State Defence Rifle Association
South African Army 1939–40
[edit]Active Citizen Force Infantry Battalions and Brigades 1940
[edit]- March 1940 – Intended Organization (HQ & Recruiting Areas)[2]
- 1st South African Infantry Brigade
- 1st Royal Natal Carabineers – Pietermaritzburg
- 1st Duke of Edinburgh's Rifles – Cape Town
- 1st Transvaal Scottish – Johannesburg
- 2nd South African Infantry Brigade
- 1st Field Force Battalion – Ladysmith
- 2nd Field Force Battalion – Ladysmith
- 1st Natal Mounted Rifles – Durban
- 3rd South African Infantry Brigade
- 1st Imperial Light Horse – Johannesburg
- 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry – Durban
- 1st Rand Light Infantry – Johannesburg
- 4th South African Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Royal Durban Light Infantry – Durban
- 2nd Natal Mounted Rifles – Greytown[k]
- The Kaffrarian Rifles – East London
- 5th South African Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Regiment Botha – North of Nylstroom
- 3rd Transvaal Scottish – Benoni
- 1st South African Irish – Johannesburg
- 6th South African Infantry Brigade
- 1st South African Police – Pretoria
- 2nd South African Police – Pretoria
- 2nd Transvaal Scottish – Johannesburg[l]
- 7th South African Infantry Brigade
- The Pretoria Highlanders – Pretoria
- 1st Pretoria Regiment – Pretoria
- The First City – Grahamstown
- 8th South African Infantry Brigade
- Regiment De la Rey[m]
- 1st Witwatersrand Rifles – Johannesburg
- The Cape Town Highlanders – Cape Town
- 9th South African Infantry Brigade
- The Prince Alfred's Guard – Port Elizabeth
- Regiment President Steyn – Bloemfontein
- Regiment Westelike Provinsie – Stellenbosch
- 10th South African Infantry Brigade
- The Kimberley Regiment- Kimberley
- Regiment South Westelike Distrike – George
- 1st Regiment Botha – South of Nylstroom
- 11th South African Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Witwatersrand Rifles – Springs
- 1st South-West African Infantry Battalion – Windhoek
- Die Middelandse Regiment – Graff-Reinet
- 12th South African Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Royal Natal Carabineers – Ladysmith
- 2nd Pretoria Regiment – Pretoria
- 2nd Rand Light Infantry – Krugersdorp
- Others
- Regiment de Wet – Kroonstaad
- Regiment Louw Wepner – Ladybrand
- 2nd Natal Mounted Rifles – Greytown
- 2nd Imperial Light Horse – Johannesburg
- 1st South African Infantry Brigade
1st Reserve Brigade – Raised 29 February 1940
[edit]- 1st Battalion (Transvaal) – Raised 29 February 1940 at Johannesburg[2]
- 2nd Battalion (The Cape Peninsular Rifles) – Raised 29 February 1940 at Cape Town
- 3rd Battalion (The Natal Scottish) – Raised 29 February 1940 at Durban
- 4th Battalion (The Witwatersrand Rifles) – Raised 29 February 1940
- 5th Battalion (Eastern Province) – Raised 29 February 1940
- 6th Battalion (Transvaal) – Raised 29 February 1940
- 7th Battalion (Orange Free State and Kimberly) – Raised 1941
- 8th Battalion (Transvaal) – Raised 1941
- 9th Battalion – Raised 1943
- 10th Battalion – Raised 1943
- 11th Battalion – Raised 1943
- 12th Battalion – Raised 1943
1st Mounted Command Division 10 June 1940 – Piet Retief
[edit]- 1st Field Squadron, SAEC[2]
- 1st Mounted Brigade[2]
- 2nd Mounted Brigade[2]
- 4th Mounted Regiment – Formed in Orange Free State
- 5th Mounted Regiment – Formed in Natal
- 6th Mounted Regiment – Formed at the Castle, Cape Town, Cape Province
The Mobilization of the South African Mobile Field Force – 1940
[edit]- 1st South African Division – Raised 13 August 1940 at Robert's Heights[2]
- 3rd Field Brigade, SAA (Transvaal Horse Artillery)
- 4th Field Brigade, SAA
- 7th Field Brigade, SAA
- 1st Anti-Tank Brigade, SAA
- 1st, 5th, 12th Field Companies, SAEC
- 19th Divisional Field Park Company, SAEC
- 1st South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 13 May 1940 at Kafferskraal)
- 2nd South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 13 May 1940 at Premier Mine)
- 1st, 2nd Field Force Battalions
- 1st Natal Mounted Rifles
- 5th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 16 June 1940 at Barberton)
- 2nd South African Division (Raised 23 October 1940)
- 1st Field Brigade, SAA (Cape Field Artillery (Prince Alfred's Own))
- 2nd Field Brigade, SAA (Natal Field Artillery)
- 5th Light Field Brigade, SAA
- 2nd Anti-Tank Brigade, SAA
- 2nd, 4th, 10th Field Companies, SAEC
- 20th Divisional Field Park Company, SAEC
- 3rd South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 8 June 1940 at Zonderwater)
- 4th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 17 June 1940 at Oribi Camp, Pietermaritzburg
- 2nd Natal Mounted Rifles (Until October 1940)
- 2nd Royal Durban Light Infantry
- The Kaffrarian Rifles
- The Umvoti Mounted Rifles (From October 1940)
- 6th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 17 June 1940 at Pietermaritzburg
- 1st Pretoria Highlanders (Until November 1940)
- 1st, 2nd South African Police
- 2nd Transvaal Scottish (From 21 November 1940)
- 3rd South African Division (Raised 23 October 1940 at Pretoria)
- 6th Light Field Brigade, SAA
- 8th, 9th, 10th Field Companies, SAEC
- 17th Divisional Field Park Company, SAEC
- 7th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 11 July 1940 at Premier Mine)
- 8th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 1 July 1940 in East London. Disbanded November 1940.)
- 9th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 15 July 1940 at Premier Mine)
- Regiment President Steyn (Until 22/11/40)
- Die Middelandse Regiment
- Regiment Westelike Provinsie (Until 1 September 1940)
- 2nd Pretoria Regiment (From Sep 1940 to Oct 1940)
- 2nd Transvaal Scottish (From 4 Sep 1940 to 21 Nov 1940)
- 2nd Royal Natal Carabineers (From 9 Sep 1940 to 3 Oct 1940)
- 1st Regiment Botha (From Sep 1940 to Nov 1940)
- 1st Pretoria Highlanders (From Nov 1940)
- The Cape Town Highlanders (From 6 Nov 1940)
- 2nd Natal Mounted Rifles (From 23 Nov 1940)
- 10th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised July 1940.[n])
- 11th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised July 1940. Disbanded October 1940.)
- 2nd Witwatersrand Rifles
- 1st South-West African Infantry Battalion
- 2nd Imperial Light Horse
- 12th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised July 1940. Disbanded September 1940.)
See also
[edit]- List of British Empire divisions in the Second World War
- List of Helmet and Shoulder Flashes and Hackles of South African Military Units
Notes
[edit]- ^ South African Permanent Force and University of Cape Town Active Citizen Force
- ^ a b c d e f g h Composite Battery of Cape Garrison Artillery and South African Permanent Garrison Artillery
- ^ An Active Citizen Force unit with Permanent Force nucleus
- ^ An Active Citizen Force unit with Permanent Force nucleus
- ^ South African Permanent Force and University of Cape Town Active Citizen Force
- ^ An Active Citizen Force unit with Permanent Force nucleus
- ^ An Active Citizen Force unit with Permanent Force nucleus
- ^ Less Detachments
- ^ Including 1st, 2nd Field Batteries, South African Artillery absorbed. Diluted with Active Citizen Force
- ^ Active Citizen Force with Permanent Force nucleus
- ^ Replaced by The Umvoti Mounted Rifles
- ^ Replaced The Pretoria Highlanders
- ^ South of Nylstroom and west of the railway, excluding Vereeniging
- ^ Replaced 8th Bde in Nov 1940
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "South African Army 1939 – 1940" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "South African Army 1939 – 1940" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.