South African Army corps and branches

The South African Army is divided into functional branches, known as corps. Most consist of units, but some, such as the SA Staff Corps, consist only of personnel who are assigned to headquarters and units. The following is a list of corps established since 1912; those which still exist are shown in bold.

The SA Defence Act Amendment Act, No. 22 of 1922 re-organised the Permanent Force. From 1 February 1923 the Permanent Force consisted of the SA Staff Corps, SA Instructional Corps, SA Naval Service, SA Field Artillery, 1st Regiment, SAM.R., the SA Permanent Garrison Artillery, the South African Engineer Corps, the South African Air Force, SA Service Corps, SA Medical Corps, SA Ordnance Corps, SA Veterinary Corps and the SA Administrative, Pay and Clerical Corps.^[1][2]

Staff

Staff

• Permanent Force Staff (1912–23)
• SA Staff Corps (formed 1923)
• SA Instructional Corps (1923–54) - incorporated into SA Infantry Corps

Combat Services

Artillery

• Field Artillery Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–34) - incorporated into SAA
• SA Field Artillery (1915–19)
• SA Heavy Artillery (1915–19)
• SA Field Artillery (1923–34) - incorporated into SA Artillery
• SA Permanent Garrison Artillery (1921–34) - incorporated into SAA
• SA Garrison Artillery (1913–34) - incorporated into SAA
• South African Artillery (SAA) (formed 1934)
• SA Anti-Aircraft (formed 1984)

Mounted Rifles

• SA Mounted Riflemen (1913–26)
• Mounted Rifles Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–35) - incorporated into infantry

Dismounted Rifles

• Dismounted Rifles Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–29)

Infantry

• Infantry Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–43) - incorporated into SA Armoured Corps
• SA Infantry Corps (born 1954)

Armour

• SA Tank Corps (1940–43)
• South African Armoured Corps (formed 1943) - included infantry until 1954

Combat Support

Engineers

• SA Engineer Corps (1914–16)
• South African Engineer Corps (formed 1923)^[3]

Signals

• Communication Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–23)
• SA Field Post and Telegraph Corps (1914–19)
• South African Corps of Signals (formed 1923)^[4]
  • 71 Signal Unit SACS (2 Squadron, 1 Armoured Division Signal Regiment, S.A.C.S. from 1 Jan 56 to 31 Jan 1959)
  • 72 Signal Unit SACS
  • 73 Signal Unit SACS
  • 3 Electronic Workshop SACS
  • 1 Signal Regiment SACS
  • South African Army Signal Formation - in the late 1990s, the SA Department of Defence decided to group various environments together, elements, which it felt belonged together such as the environments of telecommunication, information technology (IT), registries, documentation services, libraries and electronic warfare, in other words, all forms of communication. This led to the establishment of the joint-service Command and Management Information Systems Division (CMIS Division) on 1 April 1999, its task being to deliver communications and info systems for the entire SANDF. The Corps of Signals left the command of the South African Army and was totally incorporated (personnel and all equipment) into the CMIS Division. On 28 March 2008, certain elements of CMIS Division migrated back to the various services. The South African Corps of Signals returned to the command of the South African Army as from 1 April 2008, to be known as the South African Army Signal Formation.
  • In 1940, the Signals Branch of the South African Army College moved from the College to Potchefstroom where it became the Signals Training Centre, this name being changed to School of Signals in 1944. The School of Signals again became a branch of the College in 1946 and, in January 1947, it was once more moved to Potchefstroom where it became a branch of the School of Artillery and Armour.^[5]
  • Other signals units
• SA Military Pigeon Service (1939-?45)

Supporting Services

Administration and Logistics

• SA Service Corps (1913–39) - incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps^[6]
• SA Ordnance Corps (1923–39) - incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps^[6]
• SA Corps of Mechanics (1939-39) - incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps
• 'Q' Services Corps (1939–49) - later Administrative Services Corps^[7]
• Administrative Services Corps (1949–1975)^[7]
• Army Postal Service (1940–45)
• Personnel Services Corps (formed 1975)
• South African Ordnance Services Corps (formed 1975). The role of the Ordnance Services Corps “is the effective acquisition, receipt, storing, safekeeping, preservation, maintenance, accounting, distribution and disposal of clothing, accommodation, ammunition, vehicles, fuel and spares within the Army. The OSC also delivers specialised services to the Army, which includes computer services, Air Supply and Nature Conservation."^[8]
• Technical Services Corps (formed 1939)
• SA Caterers Corps (formed 1969)
• SA Ammunition Corps (formed 1973)
• Corps of Professional Officers (formed 1975)

Medical

• SA Medical Corps (1913–70) - incorporated into SA Medical Service
• SA Veterinary Corps (1913–46) - incorporated into SAMC
• SA Military Nursing Service (1914–70)
• SA Military Nursing Corps (1970–72) - incorporated into SAMS

Financial

• SA Administrative, Pay & Clerical Corps (1923–39) - incorporated into QSC
• SA Pay Corps (1940–45)
• Finance Services Corps (1972–75)
• Finance Services Corps (formed 1979)

Military Police

• SA Corps of Military Police (formed 1938)

Intelligence

• SA Intelligence Corps (1940–45)
• SA Army Intelligence Corps (formed 1977)

Chaplains

• SA Corps of Chaplains (1946–68) - incorporated into SA Chaplains Service

Science

• SA Corps of Scientists (1947–72)

Women's Services

• Women's Auxiliary Army Service (1940–47)
• Women's Auxiliary Military Police Corps (1942–46)
• Women's Defence Corps (1947–71)
• Civil Defence Corps (1971–77)
• SA Army Women's Corps (1977–98)

Special Services

• Special Service Corps (born 1964)

Music

• SA Corps of Bandsmen (born 1969)

"Non-European" Services

• South African Native Labour Corps (1915–19)
• Cape Corps (1940–50)
• Indian Service Corps (1940–42)
• Native Military Corps (1940–50)
• SA Cape Corps (1963-90s)
• SA Supporting Services Corps (1974-90s)
• SA Indian Corps (1975-90s)

Commandos

• Defence Rifle Associations (1913–49)
• Rifle Commandos (1949–58)
• Commandos ('South African Commando System') (1958–2007)

References