South African 2nd Infantry Division: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The South African 2nd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the South African Army during World War II.

History

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.

The divisional commanders during its existence were:

• From 23 October 1940: Major General IP de Villiers
• From 26 July 1941: Brigadier FH Theron (acting)
• From 5 September 1941: Major General IP de Villiers
• From 14 May 1942: Major General HB Klopper

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:
  • 1st Imperial Light Horse
  • 1st Rand Light Infantry
  • 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry
• IV South African Infantry Brigade:
  • 2nd Royal Durban Light Infantry
  • The Kaffrarian Rifles
  • Umvoti Mounted Rifles
• VI South African Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st South African Police
  • 2nd South African Police
  • 2nd Transvaal Scottish
• 7th South African Reconnaissance Battalion
• Machine Gun Unit:
  • Die Middllandse 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 Artillery

Note: 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.

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 06 June 1941
• Egypt: 6 June 1941 to 22 March 1942
• Libya: 22 March 1942 21 June 42

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

1942

• Clayden's Trench (Sollum): 11 January 1942 to 12 January 1942
• Gazala: 26 May 1942 to 21 June 1942
• Tobruk: 20 Jun 1942 to 21 June 1942