- 2nd Infantry Division (South Africa)
The South African 2nd Infantry Division was an
infantry division of theSouth African Army duringWorld War II .History
The division was formed on
23 October 1940 with its divisional HQ atVoortrekkerhoogte ,South Africa . On21 June 1942 two complete infantry brigades of the division as well as most of the supporting units were captured at the fall ofTobruk .The divisional commanders during its existence were:
* From23 October 1940 :Major General IP de Villiers
* From26 July 1941 :Brigadier FH Theron (acting)
* From5 September 1941 : Major General IP de Villiers
* From14 May 1942 : Major General HB KlopperOrder 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 just before the division's capture at the Battle of Tobruk (fighting as part of the
British 8th Army ) can be given:* III South African Infantry Brigade:
** 1stImperial Light Horse
** 1stRand Light Infantry
** 1stRoyal Durban Light Infantry
* IV South African Infantry Brigade:
** 2ndRoyal Durban Light Infantry
** The Kaffrarian Rifles
**Umvoti Mounted Rifles
* VI South African Infantry Brigade:
** 1stSouth African Police
** 2nd South African Police
** 2nd Transvaal Scottish
* 7th South African Reconnaissance Battalion
* Machine Gun Unit:
**Die Middellandse Regiment
* Field Artillery Regiments:
** 1st Field Regiment,Cape Field Artillery ,South African Artillery
** 2nd Field Regiment,Natal Field Artillery , South African Artillery
** 3rd Field Regiment,Transvaal Horse Artillery , South African Artillery
* 2nd Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, South African Artillery
* 2nd Anti-tank Regiment, South African ArtilleryNote: After the capture of the rest of the division, III South African Infantry Brigade and the 1st Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery, South African Artillery, formally 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 to20 April 1941
* At Sea:20 April 1941 to6 June 1941
* Egypt:6 June 1941 to22 March 1942
* Libya:22 March 1942 to21 June 1942 Battles, actions and engagements
The division took part in the following battles, actions and engagements:
1942
* Clayden's Trench (Sollum):
11 January 1942 to12 January 1942
* Gazala:26 May 1942 to21 June 1942
* Tobruk:20 June 1942 to21 June 1942
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