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.[1]
Order of battle
21 September 1941[1]
3 S. A. Inf Bde. -
Comd. Brig. C. E. BORAIN MC VD
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').
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 MC 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.[a]
"Fortress Tobruk"
Surrender
Maj.Gen. H. B. Klopper, Commander 2nd SA Inf Div at the surrender of Tobruk. (South African National War Museum)
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:[2]: Appendix 2
HQ 2nd Infantry Division (Maj-Gen I.P. de Villiers)
One Squadron 6th South African Armoured Car Regiment
Tobruk: 20 June 1942 to 21 June 1942. The number of South African prisoners taken at Tobruk has been recorded as 10,772[4]
Notes
^ (Sgd) H.B. KLOPPER, Colonel, General Staff. Issued through Sigs and L. Os. Time of signature 2300 hrs.
^This brigade was attached to the 1st South African Division after the loss of the 5th Infantry Brigade at Sidi-Rezegh.[3]: 110
^Infantry support tanks
Citations
^ a bU.S. War Department, WWII (25 July 1942). "The British Capture of Bardia (December 1941 - January 1942): A Successful Infantry-Tank Attack". Lone Sentry. Washington, DC: Military Intelligence Service, Information Bulletin No. 21. p. MID 461. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^Orpen, Neil D. (1971). War in the desert. Vol. III. Cape Town: Purnell. ISBN 9780360001510.
^Klein, Harry Lt-Col (1946). Springbok Record. Johannesburg: White House.
^ a bAgar-Hamilton, John Augustus Ion; Turner, Leonard Charles Frederick (1952). Crisis in the Desert, May July, 1942. [With Plates.]. Cape Town.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
