Formed:
1st February 1943
Linage:
1st South African Infantry Division
Service Record:
South Africa
Egypt
Italy
Operations and Campaigns:
Italian Campaign
Operation Grapeshot
Gothic Line
Unit Structure 1943 to 1945:
Divisional Staff:
Commanding Officer:
Major General W.H.E. Poole (1st February 1943)
Brigades:
11th South African Armoured Brigade:
Commanders:
Brigadier J.P.A. Furstenburg
Units:
1st Pretoria Regiment, Princess Alice’s Own
Prince Alfred’s Guard
Special Service Battalion
Kimberly Regiment (9th February to 5th October 1943)
Imperial Light Horse (5th October 1943)
4/13 Frontier Force Rifles (January 1944)
12th South African Motorised Infantry Brigade:
Commander:
Brigadier R.J. Palmer (8th February 1943)
Units:
1st Witwatersrand Rifles
1st City/ Cape Town Highlanders Regiment
Regiment de la Rey
Royal Natal Carbineers
1st City Regiment
Witwatersrand/de la Rey Regiment
13th South African Motorised Infantry Brigade: (21st April 1944)
Commanders:
Brigadier: J.P. Bester
Units:
Imperial Light Horse/Kimberly Regiment
Natal Mounted Rifles
Royal Durban Light Infantry
15th Field Regiment, South African Artillery Corps
24th Guards Brigade: (20th May 1944 to 19th February 1945)
Commanders:
Brigadier A.F.L. Clive (13th March 1944)
Brigadier M.D. Erskine (1st November 1944)
Lieutenant Colonel W.L. Steel (25th January 1945)
Brigadier M.D. Erskine (15th February 1945)
Units:
1st Battalion, Scots Guards
3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
5th Battalion, Grenadier Guards
23rd Field Regiment Royal Artillery
Divisional Troops:
Armoured Divisional Signals:
6th South African Divisional Signal Squadron
Artillery:
1/6 Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery
4/22 Field Regiment, South African Artillery Corps
7/23 Medium Regiment, South African Artillery Corps
1/11 Anti-Tank Regiment, South African Artillery Corps
1/12 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, South African Artillery Corps
Engineers:
8th Field Park Squadron, South African Engineer Corps
12th Field Park Squadron, South African Engineer Corps
17th Field Park Squadron, South African Engineer Corps
Reconnaissance:
Natal Mounted Rifles
