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1 SA Armoured Bde

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Old South African flag
 1 SA Armoured Brigade
   
09-Feb-43 Raised from 1 SA Infantry Brigade, HQ opened at Hay Paddock, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Units

assembled between 20/23-Feb-43
15-Mar-43       Brigade HQ to Barberton, South Africa.  The brigade provided trained reinforcements for 6 SA Armoured Division
     Mar-43      The brigade moved to Potchefstroom, South Africa
     Mar-45       By 23-Mar-45 all units had left for Italy as reinforcements for 6 SA Armoured Division, leaving few men with the brigade
     May-45 The brigade is disbanded by May-45 ?
   

Commanders

09-Feb-43 Brig GT Senescall

26-Feb-43 Brig CC de Wet du Toit
  

Brigade Troops
Artillery

Composite Regiment

16th Field Regiment, SAA Jun-43 Dec-43 dates approx, part of a composite

regiment, ordered disbanded Dec-43

17th Anti-Tank Regiment, SAA Jun-43 Dec-43 dates approx, part of a composite

regiment, ordered disbanded Dec-43

18th Light Antiaircraft Regiment, SAA Jun-43 Dec-43 dates approx, part of a composite

regiment, ordered disbanded Dec-43

1st Medium Regiment, SAA Jun-43 Dec-43 dates approx, part of a composite

regiment, ordered disbanded Dec-43

Field Regiments

15th Field Regiment, SAA Jun-43 Jan-45 to Italy joining 13 SA Motor Bde by

13-Jan-45

7th Field Regiment, SAA 09-Feb-43 01-Oct-43 to 6 SA Armd Div to form 7/23

Med Regt
Engineers

Field Companies

1st Field Company, SA Engineers 09-Feb-43 01-Feb-44 possibly serving with SAEC Corps

Troops in Italy from early 44
Medical

12th Field Ambulance, SAMC 09-Feb-43 Mar-43 disbanded Mar-43
Signals

10th Brigade Signals Company, SACS 09-Feb-43
Workshop

1st Brigade Workshop 09-Feb-43
       

Units
Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles 09-Feb-43 12-Aug-43 amalgamated with

RLI to form Dukes/RLI
Dukes/RLI (Duke of Edinburgh's/Rand Light Infantry) 12-Aug-43 07-Mar-45 amalgamated with

Transvaal Scottish to form "DSR"
Rand Light Infantry 28-Jul-43 12-Aug-43 amalgamated with
Dukes to form Dukes/RLI
Regiment President Steyn 28-Jul-43 09-Aug-43 amalgamated with 2 RB to form

RB/RPS
Royal Natal Caribineers 09-Feb-43 28-Jul-43 to 6 SA Armd Div
Transvaal Scottish 09-Feb-43 07-Mar-45 amalgamated with Dukes/RLI to

form "DSR"
"DSR" 07-Mar-45 23-Mar-45 formed by merger of Dukes/RLI

and Transvaal Scottish, left for

Italy no later than 23-Mar-45
2nd Regiment Botha 09-Feb-43 09-Aug-43 motor bn

amalgamated with RPS to form

RB/RPS

20-Feb-43 between 20/23-Feb-43, to

Cape Town as garrison
Cape Town Highlanders 24-Feb-43 01-Oct-43 motor bn

replaced 2 Regt Botha.

To 6 SA Armd Div
RB/RPS (Regiment Botha/Regiment President Steyn) 09-Aug-43 23-Mar-45 Armoured Car Commando.

Mar-45 formed two heavy

companies, one each for 12

and 13 SA Mot Bdes and left for

Italy by 23-Mar-45
Royal Durban Light Infantry 28-Jul-43 21-Nov-43 Armoured Car Commando

To 6 SA Armd Div
           

Higher formations served under

Inland Area Command (South Africa) 09-Feb-43 01-May-45
        

Theatres

South Africa 09-Feb-43 01-May-45

 

with thanks to David A Ryan for additional details

17 May 2009

 

Contact Steve Rothwell with comments and additional information