The 5th South African Infantry Brigade was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. B ...

of the

army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

of the

Union of South Africa The Union of South Africa ( nl, Unie van Zuid-Afrika; af, Unie van Suid-Afrika; ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the Cape, Natal, Tran ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. The Brigade formed part of the

South African 1st Infantry Division The 1st South African Infantry Division was an infantry division of the army of the Union of South Africa. During World War II the division served in East Africa from 1940 to 1941 and in the Western Desert Campaign from 1941 to 1942. The di ...

and was formed on 13 August 1940. It served in East Africa and the Western Desert and was disbanded on 1 January 1943.

Order of battle

East Africa

Officer Commanding: Brigadier

Bertram Frank Armstrong Bertram may refer to: Places *Bertram, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth, Australia * Bertram, Iowa, United States, a city *Bertram, Texas, United States, a city *Bertram Building, a historic building in Austin, Texas *Bertram Glacier, Palmer La ...

Armstrong was captured at Sidi Rezegh on 23 or 24 November 1941 and was flown directly from North Africa to Germany for interrogation. Matthews, D. Capt. ''With the 5th South African Infantry Brigade at Sidi Rezegh.'' South African Military History Journal – Vol 10 No 6. *1st

South African Irish Regiment The Andrew Mlangeni Regiment (formerly South African Irish Regiment) is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army. History Origins Although all the regular units of Irish origin in the British Army have served in South Africa at s ...

*2nd

Regiment Botha The General Botha Regiment (formerly Regiment Botha) is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army. The Regiment was named after General Louis Botha, the first prime minister of South Africa. History The regiment was formed in Erme ...

*3rd

Transvaal Scottish Regiment Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal. * South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...

*No. 1 S.A. Armoured Car Company *5th Field Company, SA Corps of Engineers *11th Field Ambulance, SA Medical Corps *No. 3 Mobile General Workshops, SA Technical Services Corps *1 Brigade Signals Company, SA Corps of Signals

Western Desert

The 5th Brigade was almost totally wiped out by the German 15th Panzer and Italian Ariete Divisions at Sidi Rezegh on 23 November 1941.Agar-Hamilton Pg253 Although receiving some replacements and being re-equipped, the Brigade never served operationally after this defeat.

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* Agar-Hamilton, J.A.I. & Turner, L.F.C. ''The Sidi Rezeg Battles: 1941.'' 1957, Oxford University Press, Cape Town. * Orpen, N. ''East Africa and the Abyssinian Campaigns: South African Forces World War II: Volume I''. 1968, Purnell, Cape Town. {{SA Army Units Infantry brigades of South Africa in World War II Military units and formations established in 1940 Military units and formations disestablished in 1943