3rd Infantry Division (South Africa)

3rd South African Infantry Division
South African infantry on parade prior to the Union of South Africa's entry into World War II
Active	23 October 1940 – 17 May 1943
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Allied forces of World War 2
Branch	South African Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Garrison/HQ	Pretoria and later Ermelo
Disbanded	4 April 1942 (re-designated as 3rd Arm Div)
Commanders
Until re-designation as 3rd Arm Div	Major General Hermanus Botha

South African Divisions in the Second World War
Infantry	1st Infantry Division 2nd Infantry Division 3rd Infantry Division
Armoured	3rd Armoured Division 6th Armoured Division

The South African 3rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the South African Army during World War II.

History

This division was formed in South Africa on 23 October 1940^[1] with its headquarters in Pretoria.

The 3rd Infantry Division never took an active part in any battles but instead organised and trained the South African home defence forces, performed garrison duties and trained and supplied replacements for the 1st and 2nd Divisions deployed to East Africa and later to the Western Desert.^[2]

The division was based in Pretoria until 1942, whereafter the division then moved to Ermelo in the Eastern Transvaal, although its constituent units were deployed as far as the then South West Africa.

On 4 April 1942 the division was redesignated the South African 3rd Armoured Division. This division was disbanded on 17 May 1943, without ever having been deployed. However, one of the division's constituent units, the 7th Motorised Brigade, did take part in the invasion of Madagascar.

Major General Hermanus Botha was the commander of the division from 23 August 1940 until its redesignation.

Order of battle

On formation in October 1940, the Division was structured as follows:^[3]

Division Troops
- 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
- Prince Alfred'd Guard
- The First City
9th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised 15 July 1940 at Premier Mine)
- Regiment President Steyn (Until 22 Nov 40)
- Die Middelandse Regiment
- Regiment Westelike Provinsie (Until 1 Sep 40)
- 2nd Pretoria Regiment (From Sep - Oct 40)
- 2nd Transvaal Scottish (From 4 Sep - 21 Nov 40)
- 2nd Royal Natal Carabineers (From 9 Sep - 3 Oct 40)
- 1st Regiment Botha (From Sep - Nov 40)
- 1st Pretoria Highlanders (From Nov 40)
- The Cape Town Highlanders (From 6 Nov 40)
- 2nd Natal Mounted Rifles (From 23 Nov 40)
10th South African Infantry Brigade (Raised July 1940. Replaced 8th Bde in Nov 40.)
- The Kimberley Regiment
- 2nd Witwatersrand Rifles
- The First City
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

Citations

↑ Martin, H.J. Lt-Gen; Orpen, Neil D, Col (1979). South Africa at War: Military and Industrial Organisation and Operations in connection with the conduct of the War, 1939-1945. Cape Town: Purnell. p. 68. ISBN 0868430250.
↑ Martin & Orpen, 1979 p.100
↑ Command and General Staff College (CGSC). "South African Army: 3 September 1939 - July 1940" (PDF). US Army Combined Arms Center (CAC). Retrieved 10 October 2014.

South African Army Units

Department of Defence, South African National Defence Force, South African Army

Divisions and Brigades

Brigades	43 South African Brigade 44 Parachute Brigade 46 South African Brigade

Armoured Formation (SAAAF)

Training	School of Armour
Tank	Regular 1 South African Tank Regiment Reserve Pretoria Regiment Natal Mounted Rifles Regiment President Steyn
Armoured Car	Regular 1 Special Service Battalion Reserve Umvoti Mounted Rifles Regiment Oranjerivier Regiment Mooirivier Light Horse Regiment

Infantry Formation (SAAIF)

Training	South African Infantry School
Parachute Infantry	Regular 44 Para 1 Para 44 Pathfinders 13 Signal Squadron 18 Light Regiment 44 Medical Task Group 101 Air Supply Unit SAOSC 44 Training Wing Parachute Packing Wing Reserve 2 Para 3 Para
Air Assault Infantry	Regular 6 SAI Reserve First City Regiment Prince Alfred's Guard
Seaborne Infantry	Regular 9 SAI Reserve Cape Town Rifles ("Duke's")
Light Infantry	Regular 21 SAI Reserve Rand Light Infantry Regiment Oos Rand Regiment Paul Kruger
Mechanised Infantry	Regular 1 SAI 8 SAI Reserve Regiment De La Rey Regiment Northern Transvaal Cape Town Highlanders Regiment Western Province Witwatersrand Rifles
Motorised Infantry	Regular 2 SAI 4 SAI 5 SAI 7 SAI 10 SAI 14 SAI 15 SAI 121 SAI Reserve Regiment Botha Regiment Christiaan Beyers Johannesburg Regiment South African Irish Transvaal Scottish Tshwane Regiment Buffalo Volunteer Rifles Durban Regiment Durban Light Infantry Kimberly Regiment Natal Carbineers Regiment Bloemspruit Regiment Piet Retief

Artillery Formation

Training	School of Artillery (South Africa)
Regular	HQ Artillery Mobilisation Regiment 4 Artillery Regiment
Reserve	Cape Field Artillery Natal Field Artillery Transvaal Horse Artillery Regiment Potchefstroom Universiteit Transvaalse Staatsartillerie Vrystaatse Artillerie Regiment Pretoria Highlanders 18 Light Regiment

Air Defence Artillery Formation

Training	School of Air Defence Artillery (South Africa)
Regular	HQ 6 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment 44 Parachute Anti-Aircraft Regiment
Reserve	Cape Garrison Artillery Regiment Vaalriver Regiment Oos Transvaal 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Regiment Overvaal

Engineer Formation

Training	South African Army Engineer School
Regular	HQ 2 Field Engineer Regiment 35 Engineer Support Regiment 1 Construction Regiment Engineer Terrain Intelligence Unit
Reserve	3 Field Engineer Regiment 19 Field Engineer Regiment 44 Parachute Engineer Regiment

Training Formation

3 SAI
SA Army Combat Training Centre (SAACTC)
Army Gymnasium
Army College
de Brug Training Area
Wallmannsthal Training Area

Support Formation

Army Support Bases (Eastern Cape, Johannesburg, Kimberley, KZN, Limpopo, Potcheftstroom, Western Cape, Mpumalanga)
Mobilisation Centre
Main Ordnance Depot
National Ceremonial Guard
15 Maint Unit
Other Maintenance Units
37 Field Workshop SAOSC
Other Field Workshops

Signals Formation

Regular	1 Signal Regt 2 Signal Regt 3 Signal Regt 4 Signal Regt 5 Signal Regt
Reserve	6 Signal Regt 7 Signal Group 11 Field Postal Unit 71 Signals Unit 84 Signal Unit

Disbanded or Amalgamated Units

SADF Commands	Eastern Province Command (Port Elizabeth) Eastern Transvaal Command (Nelspruit) Natal Command(Durban) Northern Transvaal Command (Swartkop, Pretoria) Northern Cape Command (Kimberly) Orange Free State Command (Bloemfontein) Western Province Command (Cape Town) West Transvaal Command Witwatersrand Command (Johannesburg) Far North Command (Pietersburg) Northern Logistic Command (Grootfontein, South West Africa) South West Africa Command (Windhoek, South West Africa)
SADF Corps	I South African Corps Cape Corps
SADF Divisions	7th South African Infantry Division 8th South African Armoured Division 9th South African Division 10 South African Division (Operation Prone)
SADF Brigades	16 Brigade (see 81 Armoured Brigade) 17 Brigade (see 71 Motorised Brigade ) 18 Brigade (see 72 Motorised Brigade) 19 Brigade (see 82 Mechanised Brigade) 20 Brigade 60 Brigade (Battlegroups HQ Lohatla) 71 Motorised Brigade SADF era 72 Motorised Brigade SADF era 73 Motorised Brigade SADF era 74 Brigade SADF and SANDF era (see 8th Armoured Division) 75 Brigade SADF and SANDF era (see 9th Division) 81 Armoured Brigade SADF era 82 Mechanised Brigade SADF era 83 Brigade (planned but never existed) 84 Motorised Brigade SADF era 10 Artillery Brigade SADF era Other brigades
SADF Battlegroups	Combat Group Juliet 61 Mech 62 Mech 63 Mech
UDF and SADF Regiments and Battalions	1 Locating Regiment 2 Locating Regiment Cape Regiment Regiment Algoa Bay Regiment Boland Regiment Congella Regiment Dan Pienaar Regiment De Wet Regiment Edenvale Regiment Groot Karoo Regiment Highveld Regiment Hillcrest Regiment Langenhoven Regiment Louw Wepener/Oos Vrystaat Regiment Molopo Regiment Natalia Regiment North Natal Regiment Port Natal Regiment Pretorius Regiment Sasolburg Regiment Springs Regiment Skoonspruit Regiment Uitenhage Regiment University of Cape Town Regiment University of the Free State Regiment University of Port Elizabeth Regiment University of Pretoria Regiment University of Stellenbosch Regiment University of Witwatersrand Regiment Vanderbiljpark Regiment Vrystaat 1 Special Training Unit 2 Special Service Battalion 3rd Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron 5 Forward Delivery Squadron 6 Field Artillery Regiment 7 Medium Artillery Regiment 8 Field Artillery Regiment 10 Armoured Squadron 11 SAI 12 SAI 13 SAI 14 Field Artillery Regiment 17 Field Artillery Regiment 19 Rocket Regiment 24 Field Artillery Regiment 25 Field Artillery Regiment 26 Field Artillery Regiment 32 Battalion SA Army Troop Information Unit Cape Flats Light Infantry
SADF Homeland Battalions	111 Battalion 112 Battalion 113 Battalion 115 Battalion 116 Battalion 117 Battalion 118 Battalion 151 Battalion
SADF Military Areas	Walvis Bay Military Area Soutpansberg Military Area Hellsgate Training Area Riemvasmaak Training Area
SADF Commando System	South African Commando System
SADF State Presidents Guard	State Presidents Guard
SADF Mobilisation Units	14 Reception Depot 15 Reception Depot 16 Reception Depot 17 Reception Depot 19 Reception Depot
Bophuthatswana Defence Force1977-1994	1 BDF Infantry Battalion 2 BDF Infantry Battalion BDF Parachute Battalion BDF Military School BDF Special Forces 1 BDF Military Area 2 BDF Military Area 3 BDF Military Area BDF Signals Unit BDF Bafokeng base BDF Mankwe base BDF Odi base BDF Thaba'Nchu base BDF Taung base BDF Air Wing
Venda Defence Force1979-1994	VDF Headquarters Sibasa 1 VDF Battalion Manenu 2 VDF Battalion Maunavhathu VDF Vuwani Military Base VDF Signals Unit VDF Air Wing
Ciskei Defence Force1981-1994	1 CDF Battalion CDF Special Forces
Transkei Defence Force1981-1994	1 TDF Battalion TDF Special Forces TDF Mounted Battalion
SWATF1977-1989	Regular Infantry Battalions 31/201 Battalion 33/701 Battalion 34/202 Battalion 35/101 Battalion 301 Battalion 36/203 Battalion 37/102 Battalion Modular Infantry Battalions 51 Battalion 52 Battalion 53 Battalion 54 Battalion 55 Battalion SWATF Brigade 91 Reaction Force Brigade 41/911 Battalion/Regiment Windhoek 912 Battalion/Regiment Erongo 913 Battalion/Regiment Namutoni 91 Armoured Car Regiment 91 Composite Field Regiment 91 Engineers Squadron 91 Field Ambulance 91 Mobilisation Centre 91 Technical Workshop 91 Maintenance Workshop Support Structures Logistics Brigade SWA Mil School SWA Military Academy Special Forces 1 SWA Specialist Unit 2 SWA Specialist Unit 1 SWA Parachute Battalion Air Component 1 SWA Commando Squadron
Union Defence Force (South Africa)1912-1957	1st South African Infantry Division 2nd South African Division 3rd South African Infantry Division 6th South African Armoured Division 1st Reserve Brigade UDF era 1st Infantry Brigade UDF era 2nd Infantry Brigade UDF era 3rd Infantry Brigade UDF era 4th Infantry Brigade UDF era 5th Infantry Brigade UDF era 7th Motorised Brigade UDF era 1 SA Armoured Brigade South African Field Force Pioneer Battalion Cape Fortress Engineers 1 Mobile Watch 1 Medium Regiment SAA Cape Mounted Riflemen Cape Peninsular Rifles 1 Special Service Battalion Cape Garrison Force Cape Light Horse Cape Coast Defence Corps Durban Coast Defence Corps South African Field Artillery Brigade Coast Artillery Brigade Regiment Onse Jan Transvaal Cycle Corps 1st Citizen Battery 2nd Citizen Battery 3rd Citizen Battery 4th Citizen Battery 5th Citizen Battery 6th Citizen Battery 7th Citizen Battery 8th and 9th Citizen Batteries No 1 Military District Cape Town No 2 Military District Port Elizabeth No 3 Military District East London No 4 Military District Pietermaritzburg No 5 Military District Durban No 6 Military District Standerton No 7 Military District Potchefstroom No 8 Military District Johannesburg No 9 Military District Pretoria No 10 Military District Kroonstad No 11 Military District Bloemfontein No 12 Military District Prieska No 13 Military District De Aar No 14 Military District Worcester
Volunteers of Union of South Africa World War 1 Europe Campaign 1914-1918	South African Overseas Expeditionary Force 1st South African Infantry Brigade SA Heavy Artillery Brigade 1st SA Infantry Regiment 2nd SA Infantry Regiment 3rd SA Infantry Regiment 4th SA Infantry Regiment South African Native Labour Corps
Volunteers of Union of South Africa World War 1 East Africa Campaign 1914-1915	1st Infantry ACF 2nd Infantry ACF 5th Infantry ACF 9th Infantry ACF

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