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

Defence Headquarters: Pretoria, Transvaal ^[2]

Cape Command

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]
• 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

Eastern Province Command

HQ East London, Cape Province

• 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)

Natal Command

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

Orange Free State Command

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)

Robert's Heights and Transvaal Command

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

Witwatersrand Command

HQ Johannesburg, Transvaal

• 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)

• 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

Active Citizen Force Infantry Battalions and Brigades 1940

• 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 Reserve Brigade – Raised 29 February 1940

• 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

• 1st Field Squadron, SAEC ^[2]
• 1st Mounted Brigade ^[2]
  • 1st Mounted Regiment – Formed at Pretoria
  • 2nd Mounted Regiment – Formed in the Transvaal
  • 3rd Mounted Regiment – Formed in the Transvaal
• 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

• 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)
    • 1st Royal Natal Carabineers
    • The Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
    • 1st Transvaal Scottish
  • 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)
    • 3rd Transvaal Scottish
    • 2nd Regiment Botha
    • 1st South African Irish Regiment
• 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)
    • 1st Imperial Light Horse
    • 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry
    • 1st Rand Light Infantry
  • 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)
    • 1st Pretoria Regiment
    • 1st Witwatersrand Rifles
    • Regiment De la Rey
  • 8th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 1 July 1940 in East London. Disbanded November 1940.)
    • The Cape Town Highlanders
    • The First City
    • Prince Alfred's Guard
  • 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] )
    • The Kimberley Regiment
    • 2nd Witwatersrand Rifles
    • The First City Regiment
  • 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.)
    • 2nd Royal Natal Carabineers
    • 2nd Pretoria Regiment
    • 2nd Rand Light Infantry

See also

• List of British Empire divisions in the Second World War
• List of Helmet and Shoulder Flashes and Hackles of South African Military Units

Notes

1. South African Permanent Force and University of Cape Town Active Citizen Force
2. Composite Battery of Cape Garrison Artillery and South African Permanent Garrison Artillery
3. An Active Citizen Force unit with Permanent Force nucleus
4. An Active Citizen Force unit with Permanent Force nucleus
5. South African Permanent Force and University of Cape Town Active Citizen Force
6. An Active Citizen Force unit with Permanent Force nucleus
7. An Active Citizen Force unit with Permanent Force nucleus
8. Less Detachments
9. Including 1st, 2nd Field Batteries, South African Artillery absorbed. Diluted with Active Citizen Force
10. Active Citizen Force with Permanent Force nucleus
11. Replaced by The Umvoti Mounted Rifles
12. Replaced The Pretoria Highlanders
13. South of Nylstroom and west of the railway, excluding Vereeniging
14. Replaced 8th Bde in Nov 1940

References

1. "South African Army 1939 – 1940" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
2. "South African Army 1939 – 1940" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.