Girish Mahajan (Editor)

5th Infantry Brigade (South Africa)

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Country
  
South Africa

Branch
  
South African Army

Size
  
Brigade

Allegiance
  
Union of South Africa

Type
  
Infantry

Active
  
13 Aug 1940 – 24 Nov 1941

The 5th South African Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The Brigade formed part of the South African 1st Infantry Division and was formed on 13 August 1940. It served in East Africa and the Western Desert and was disbanded on 1 January 1943.

Contents

East Africa

Officer Commanding: Brigadier Bertram Frank Armstrong

  • 1st South African Irish Regiment
  • 2nd Regiment Botha
  • 3rd Transvaal Scottish Regiment
  • No. 1 S.A. Armoured Car Company
  • 5th Field Company, SA Corps of Engineers
  • 11th Field Ambulance, SA Medical Corps
  • No. 3 Mobile General Workshops, SA Technical Services Corps
  • 1 Brigade Signals Company, SA Corps of Signals

    • Western Desert

    The 5th Brigade was almost totally wiped out by the German 15th Panzer and Italian Ariete Divisions at Sidi Rezegh on 23 November 1941. Although partially re-staffed and re-equipped, the Brigade never served operationally after this defeat.

    References

    5th Infantry Brigade (South Africa) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA