2nd Infantry Division (South Africa)
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.
History
Formation
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.
Operations
Order of battle
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 Alexandria 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::
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 (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 Middelandse 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)
10th Field Company, South African Engineering Corps
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 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
4th & 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 Regiment
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: 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
Notes, Citations, Bibliography and External Links
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