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

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]

Citations

  1. 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.
  2. Martin & Orpen, 1979 p.100
  3. 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.

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