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.
History
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 Korps 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.
Order of battle
21 September 1941
3 S. A. Inf Bde. -
Comd. Brig. C. E. BORAIN
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 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 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.
"Fortress Tobruk"
Surrender
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.
Order of battle
Initial operational deployment: 2 December 1941
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 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: