Willem Louw

Last updated

Lieutenant General

Willem Petrus Louw

SSA SM
Willem Louw.jpg
Born(1920-11-24)24 November 1920
Bloemhof, South Africa
Died4 July 1980(1980-07-04) (aged 59)
Buried
Voortrekkerhoogte, Pretoria, Gauteng, New Military cemetery [1]
25°46′53″S28°07′18″E / 25.78148°S 28.12166°E / -25.78148; 28.12166 Coordinates: 25°46′53″S28°07′18″E / 25.78148°S 28.12166°E / -25.78148; 28.12166
AllegianceFlag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg  Republic of South Africa
Service/branchEnsign of the South African Defence Force (1981-1994).svg  South African Army
Years of service1938–1975
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held
  • Inspector General of the SADF
  • Chief of the Army
  • Northern Transvaal Command
  • SA Military College
  • 1 Parachute Battalion
Wars World War II
Awards Ribbon - Star of South Africa (1952).gif Ribbon - Southern Cross Medal (1952).gif UK Queen EII Coronation Medal ribbon.svg Ribbon - Union Medal.gif Ribbon - 1939-45 Star.png Ribbon - Italy Star.png Defence Medal BAR.svg Ribbon - War Medal.png Ribbon - Africa Service Medal.png

Lieutenant-General Willem Petrus Louw SSA SM (Bloemhof, [2] : 255  24 November 1920 –4 July 1980) [1] was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army in the Special Service Battalion in 1938, [3] : 94  and served in Italy in World War II.

Contents

Military career

After enlisting as a private, he served as an NCO in the Technical Service Corps (SAOC) [2] : 255  and was seconded to the South African Infantry. In 1943 he attended a Candidate Officers' course and was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the South African Army Armoured Corps. He was transferred to the 6th Armoured Division and deployed to the Middle East and Italy. [3] : 94 

After the war, he served in various posts and in 1959 became Officer Commanding North West Cape Command [2] : 255  In 1960 he attended a Parachute Instructors' course in England. He was promoted to Commandant (Lieutenant Colonel) in January 1961 and in April 1961 became the founder and first commanding officer of 1 Parachute Battalion. He was promoted to Colonel in 1964 and appointed OC of the Military College in Voortrekkerhoogte. [2] : 255  In 1966 he served as OC Northern Transvaal Command [3] : 94  as a Brigadier and Chief of the Army from 1967 to 1973, [4] [3] : 94  and as Inspector-General of the South African Defence Force from 1973 to 1975. [3] : 94 

After a re-organisation of the SADF, the position of Inspector General was abolished and he retired on 31 March 1975. [2] [3] : 94 

Awards and decorations

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References

  1. 1 2 "LOUW Willem Petrus 1920-1980" . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Els, Paul J WO1 (2010). We conquer from above. PelsA Books. ISBN   978-0-620-46738-4.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leiers Deur die Jare (1912-1982)" (Online). Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies (in Afrikaans). 12 (2): 89–98. doi: 10.5787/12-2-631 . ISSN   2224-0020 . Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Fact file: Chiefs of the SA Army". defenceweb.co.za. Defence Web. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

See also

Military offices
Preceded by
Maj Gen Fritz Loots
Inspector General of the SADF
1973–1975		Post Abolished
Preceded by Chief of the South African Army
1967–1973		Succeeded by
Preceded by OC Northern Transvaal Command
1966–1967		Succeeded by
Preceded by OC South African Military College
1964–1966		Succeeded by
New creation
Regiment Founded
 OC 1 Parachute Battalion
April 1961–1964		Succeeded by
Jan Fourie
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