3rd Infantry Division (South Africa)


The South African 3rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the South African Army during World War II.

History

This division was formed in South Africa on 23 October 1940 with its headquarters in Pretoria.
The 3rd Infantry Division as a whole did not go into combat, but its 7th Motorized brigade group participated in the 1942 Invasion of Madagascar. The division organised and trained the South African home defence forces, performed garrison duties and trained and supplied replacements for the [South African South African 1st Infantry Division|1st Infantry Division|1st] and [South African South African 2nd Infantry Division|2nd Infantry Division|2nd] Divisions deployed to East Africa and later to the Western Desert.
The division was based in Pretoria until 1942, whereafter the division then moved to
Ermelo in the Eastern Transvaal, although its constituent units were deployed as far as the then South West Africa.

On 4 April 1942 the division was redesignated the South African 3rd Armoured Division. This division was disbanded on 17 May 1943, without ever having been deployed. However, one of the division's constituent units, the 7th Motorised Brigade, did take part in the invasion of Madagascar.
Major General Hermanus Botha was the commander of the division from 23 August 1940 until its redesignation.

Order of battle

On formation in October 1940, the Division was structured as follows: