The South African 2nd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The Division was formed on 23 October 1940 and served in the Western Desert Campaign and was captured (save for one brigade) by German and Italian forces at Tobruk on 21 June 1942. The remaining brigade was re-allocated to the South African 1st Infantry Division.
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.
Bardia and the Western Desert
The Division capture of Bardia was part of the Libyan campaign against Rommel's Afrika Corps from November 1941 to January 1942. They defeated a numerically superior Axis force in a strongly fortified position with a combined infantry and tank force.
21 September 1941
3 S. A. Inf Bde. -
Comd. Brig. C. E. BORAIN MC VD
Tps.
1 I.L.H.
1 R.L.I
1 KAFF R. (under comd from 1000 hrs 25 Dec. 41)
B & C Coys D. M. R.
2 S. A. Fd Coy less one sec.
One Sec 10 S. A. Fd Coy.
One Pl 4 Bde Sig Coy. Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec.
5 Bde Sig Coy less one pl.
3 S. A. Bde 'Q' Services Coy.
Three dets 14 S. A. Fd Amb. (Under comd from D.-1)
with in support:
One Regt 1 Army Tank Bde.
Arty as arranged by C. R. A.
Task.
To attack BARDIA through perimeter defences as described in Para 6 (a) and in Operation Instruction No. 21 (Appx 'A').
NORTHFORCE
Comd. Lt. Col. J. BUTLER-PORTER VD 1 R.D.L.I.
Tps.
1 R.D.L.I.
Sec 2 S. A. Fd Coy.
Pl 5 Bde Sig. Coy.
Det 16 Fd Amb. Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec.
with in support:
N. Z. Div Cav Regt, less one sqn.
Tasks.
To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces within the perimeter along the gen line of enemy defences from incl 51143960—incl 51554030, in accordance with Operation Instruction No. 22 (Appx 'C'). [5]
KINGFORCE
Comd. Lt. Col. W. KINGWELL MC D. M. R.
Tps.
D.M.R. less B. C. & D. Coys and one pl A. Coy.
Two Pls 7 S. A. Armd Recce Bn.
Det 4 S. A. Fd Coy (Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec.).
with in support:
One Sqn N. Z. Div Car Regt.
Task.
To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces along the gen line of the perimeter defences from incl 51973860—excl 51143960, in accordance with Operation Instruction No. 23 (Appx 'D'). [5]
SOUTHFORCE
Comd. Maj. P. J. JACOBS, 7 S. A. Armd Recce Bn.
Tps.
7 S. A. Armd Recce Bn, less one Coy and two pls.
Det 4 S. A. Fd Coy
Det 14 S. A. Fd Amb. (Under comd from 1000 hrs 26 Dec.)
Task.
To contain and demonstrate against enemy forces along the gen line of perimeter defences from incl MARSA ER RAMLA 52423868—excl 51973860, in accordance with Operation Instruction No. 24 (Appx. 'E'). [5]
RESERVES
Comd. Lt. Col. R. J. PALMER, 1 S. A. P.
Tps.
One Regt 1 Army Tank Bde.
1 S.A.P.
Sec 4 S. A. Fd Coy.
Det 14 S. A. Fd. Amb.
On 18 September 1941 the Division was re-allocated from X Corps command to falling under General HQ command and were responsible for protecting the railway and water supply lines between Alexandria and Mersa Matruh. On 11 October, the The Kaffrarian Rifles were detached from the division and deployed to protect the landing fields in the Daba-Fuka-Bagush area. On taking over responsibility for the Frontier area on 2 December 1941 the divisional order of battle, as part of the 8th Army was:
HQ 2nd Infantry Division (Maj-Gen I.P. de Villiers)
One Squadron 6th South African Armoured Car Regiment
Braforce (Brig. Medley)
2nd South African Infantry Brigade (Brig. W.H.E. Poole)
4th South African Infantry Brigade (less one battalion) (Brig. A.A. Hayton)
4th Field Regiment, S A Artillery
One Battery, 5th Field Regiment, S A Artillery
One Troop, 67th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
One Troop, 68th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
C and D Companies, Die Middelandse Regiment
3rd South African Infantry Brigade (Brig C.E.Borain, MC, VD):
Imperial Light Horse
1st Royal Durban Light Infantry
Rand Light Infantry
5th Field Regiment, S A Artillery (less one battery)
6th South African Infantry Brigade (Brig. F.W. Cooper):
2nd Transvaal Scottish
1st South African Police Battalion
2nd South African Police Battalion
1st Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery
Railhead Force (Lt. Col. G.E.L. L'Estrange VD):
Umvoti Mounted Rifles
Die Middellandse Regiment
Detachment TDS (approx 30 "I" Tanks)
10th Field Company, South African Engineering Corps
5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade Group
Order of Battle as at 20 June 1942
Division Troops
Die Middelandse Regiment (Machine-gun battalion)
7th South African Reconnaissance Battalion
2nd Field Regiment, Natal Field Artillery, South African Artillery
3rd Field Regiment, Transvaal Horse Artillery, South African Artillery
6th Anti-Tank Battery, South African Artillery
2nd Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, South African Artillery
4th & 10th South African Field Companies, S A Engineers
4th South African Infantry Brigade
2nd Royal Durban Light Infantry
Umvoti Mounted Rifles
The Kaffrarian Rifles
Blake Group (a composite battalion ex 1 SA Div)
6th South African Infantry Brigade
1st S.A. Police Battalion
2nd S.A. Police Battalion
2nd Transvaal Scottish Regiment
Note: After the capture of the rest of the division, 3rd South African Infantry Brigade and the 1st Field Regiment of the Cape Field Artillery 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 6 June 1941
Egypt: 6 June 1941 to 22 March 1942
Libya: 22 March 1942 to 21 June 1942
Battles, actions and engagements
The division took part in the following battles, actions and engagements:
Bardia: 31 December 1941 to 2 January 1942. Some 8,000 Allied prisoners of war were freed and some 6,000 Axis prisoners were taken.
Clayden's Trench (Sollum): 11 January 1942 to 12 January 1942
Gazala: 26 May 1942 to 21 June 1942
Tobruk: 20 June 1942 to 21 June 1942. The number of South African prisoners taken at Tobruk has been recorded as 10,772
