The South African 1st Infantry Division was an infantry division of the South African Army during World War II.

History

The division was formed on 13 August 1940 in South Africa with its HQ at the South African Military College. On 1 January 1943 it returned to South Africa as part of a plan to form two armoured divisions.

The divisional commanders during its existence were:

• From 13 August 1940: Brigadier George Brink
• From 10 March 1942: Major General DH Pienaar

Order 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 during the Battle of El Alamein (fighting as part of the British 8th Army) can be given:

• I South African Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
  • 1st Royal Natal Carabineers
  • 1st Transvaal Scottish
• II South African Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st Cape Town Highlanders
  • 1st Natal Mounted Rifles
  • 1st/2nd Field Force Battalion
• III South African Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st Imperial Light Horse
  • 1st Rand Light Infantry
  • 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry
• 3rd South African Armoured Car Reconnaisance Regiment
• One Machine Gun Batallion, consisting of:
  • B Company, Die Middllandse Regiment
  • Regiment President Steyn
• Field Artillery Regiments:
  • 1st Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery, South African Artillery
  • 4th Field Regiment, South African Artillery
  • 7th Field Regiment, South African Artillery
• 1st Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, South African Artillery
• 1st Anti-tank Regiment, South African Artillery

Theatres of operation

The theatres that the division served in were as follows:

• South Africa: 13 August 1940 to 4 November 1940
• At Sea: 4 November 1940 to 11 November 1940
• East Africa: 11 November 1940 to 13 January 1941
• Abyssinia: 13 January 1941 to 8 March 1941
• East Africa: 08 March 1941 to 21 April 1941
• At Sea: 22 April 1941 to 3 May 1941
• Egypt: 3 May 1941 to 18 November 1941
• Libya: 18 November 1941 to 12 December 1941
• Egypt: 12 December 1941 to 30 January 1942
• Libya: 30 January 1942 to 15 June 1942
• Egypt: 15 June 1942 to 01 January 1943

Battles, actions and engagements

The division took part in the following battles, actions and engagements:

1941

• El Yibo: 16 January 1941 to 18 January 1941
• Turbi Road: 24 January 1941 to 25 January 1941
• Gorai: 1 February 1941 to 1 February 1941
• El Gumu: 1 February 1941 to 1 February 1941
• Hobok: 2 February 1941 to 2 February 1941
• Banno: 8 February 1941 to 9 February 1941
• Yavello Road: 15 February 1941 to 15 February 1941
• Mega: 15 February 1941 to 18 February 1941
• Tobruk: 18 November 1941 to 10 December 1941

1942

• Gazala: 26 May 1942 to 21 June 1942
• Mersa Matruh: 26 June 1942 to 30 June 1942
• Defence of Alamein line: 1 July 1942 to 27 July 1942
• Tel el Eisa: 10 July 1942 to 11 July 1942
• El Alamein: 23 October 1942 to 4 November 1942