Allegiance South Africa Name Pieter Grobbelaar Years of service 1933 – 1965 Died June 22, 1988 | Rank General Battles and wars World War II Battles/wars World War II | |
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Born 16 September 1908
Porterville ( 1908-09-16 ) Awards Star of South Africa (SSA)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) | ||
Service/branch South African Army | ||
Pieter grobbelaar mpg
General Pieter Grobbelaar (16 September 1908 – 22 June 1988) was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army as a part-time Citizen Force soldier in 1929 and became a full-time Permanent Force member in 1933.
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Military career
During World War II he commanded 7th Reconnaissance Battalion as a Lieutenant Colonel, and was second in command of 12th Motorised Brigade of 6th Armoured Division in Italy.
After World War II he served as Officer Commanding Orange Free State Command, OC Northern Transvaal Command and the South African Military College.
He served as Army Chief of Staff from 1953 to 1958, as Inspector-General from 1958 to 1959, as Deputy Commandant-General from 1959 to 1960, and as Commandant-General, i.e. chief of the South African Defence Force, from 1961 to 1965.