1st Indus Drama Awards, Honorary Indus Drama Awards
The Indus Media Group presented Special Awards during the ceremony. These are usually are not a part of specific category, but a special honor for artists related to drama.


1st Indus Drama Awards, Presenters and performers
The following individuals and groups, listed in order of appearance, presented awards or performed musical numbers.


1st Infantry (album)
1st Infantry is the debut solo studio album by American hip hop producer and recording artist The Alchemist. The album was released on September 21, 2004 and peaked at number 101 on the Billboard 200 and number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.


1st Infantry (album)
The album was solely produced by The Alchemist and features guest vocalists including Prodigy, Nina Sky, The Game, The Lox, Nas, M.O.P., Mobb Deep, Lloyd Banks, T.I., and Dilated Peoples.


1st Infantry (album)
One single from the album, "Hold You Down", peaked at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 47 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.


1st Infantry (album)
The album was also released in an instrumental version and deluxe edition with a bonus DVD on October 4, 2005.


1st Infantry Battalion (Albania)
The 1st Infantry Battalion (Albanian: Batalioni i 1-rë i Këmbësorisë, b1k) is one of the three infantry battalions, along with the b2k and b3k, part of the Albanian Land Force. The b1k it is based in Vau i Dejës, Shkodër County. It consists on 3 companies, with 100 – 130 soldiers each, with a total of about 700 effective as a whole battalion. Normally they fall under the command of Land Force Command and Staff.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL)
The 1st Infantry Battalion of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army was a Dutch colonial military unit that was active in the Dutch East Indies during World War II and the Indonesian National Revolution.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), Background
On March 7, 1942, just before the fall of Java, Lieutenant Governor General Huib van Mook and 14 officials flew to Australia to establish a Dutch East Indies government to continue the fight. Van Mook was recalled to London, but on April 8 the Netherlands Indies Commission for Australia and New Zealand (NINDICOM) was established. The Commission was headed by Ch. O. van der Plas and further consisted of J.E. van Hoogstraten, Raden Loekman Djajadiningrat and R.E. Smits. Its seat was located in Melbourne, where the headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander in Asia, the American General Douglas MacArthur, was then located. The Commission worked together with the Dutch ambassador Van Aerssen Beyeren in Canberra.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), World War II, Formation
On June 1, 1944, at Camp Victory, near Casino, New South Wales, the 1st Battalion KNIL was founded. With this establishment the first large unit of the new KNIL was formed.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), World War II, Formation
The service sections, later the "Technical Battalion" led by Lieutenant Colonel IJsseldijk, consisting of BPM and ex-KPM personnel, were intended for oil extraction immediately after the conquest of the oil fields in Tarakan and Balikpapan.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), World War II, Formation
The armed forces commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Breemouer included the 1st and 2nd Cie "Overseas", consisting of Surinamese and Antillean War Volunteers; the 36 NEI Coy "Timor-Coy", evacuated from Timor to Australia in December 1942 and consisted of small interpreters and guides / battle groups , which were partly assigned to American units in the Pacific; small groups of liberated Dutch East Indies prisoners of war on New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago islands in the Pacific; and deployed war volunteers in the Dutch East Indies from personnel of the Princess Irene Brigade.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), World War II, Formation
The armed forces were renamed 1st Infantry Battalion on November 15, 1944, and after having passed the Jungle Warfare School, they were brought into battle.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), World War II, Structure
1st Battalion KNIL (3000 men). This consisted on November 15, 1944 of;


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), World War II, Operations
January 9, 1945: Landing of the US 936th Division at Biak, and a few weeks later at Morotai. In this (at a later stage) the 1st Inf. I Bat. KNIL takes part.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), World War II, Operations
May 1, 1945: Landing of the 9th Australian Division at Tarakan. The 2nd Inf. I Bat. takes part and suffers her first losses.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), World War II, Operations
July 1, 1945: Landing of the 76th Australian Division at Balikpapan. The 1st Inf I Bat is part of the first landing echelon.


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), Indonesian War of Independence
On October 4, 1945 the 1st Bat.Inf. in Batavia consisted of:


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), Indonesian War of Independence
From October 1945, the Battalion was charged with ensuring order and peace in the southern and eastern fringes of Batavia. On October 10, the 5 Cie KNIL arrives from Australia, consisting of War Volunteers. On March 8, 1948 the battalion was disbanded due to demobilization. On May 26, the battalion is re-established as 1st Infantry Battalion. In February 1949 were added to the battalion:


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), Indonesian War of Independence
Soldiers of Inf I were nicknamed 'the Matjans' (the Tigers) because of their camouflage suits (Jungle warfare suits).


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), Images
From Suriname, the Dutch West Indies, Creoles, together with Javanese and Hindus arrive in Australia (1944)


1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL), Images
Acting KNIL commander Lt-Gen van Oyen (left) and Lt-Kol Dr. Brandon (right) are brought back to Lingkas by LST after visiting a location on Tarakan Island. (1945)


1st Infantry Brigade (Estonia)
The 1st Infantry Brigade (Estonian: 1. jalaväebrigaad) is an infantry brigade of the Estonian Land Forces. It is the primary military unit in Northern Estonia. The brigade headquarters is based at Tapa.


1st Infantry Brigade (Estonia), History
On 25 April 1917, the 2nd Naval Fortress Regiment of the Peter the Great's Naval Fortress was formed in Tallinn, recruited from Estonians. In May 1917, the regiment was renamed 1st Estonian Infantry Regiment. From 1918 to 1920, the unit fought in the Estonian War of Independence. The unit was disbanded after the Soviet occupation in 1940.


1st Infantry Brigade (Estonia), History
On 1 February 2003, the 1st Infantry Brigade was formed in Tallinn. In 2006, the brigade headquarters was moved to Paldiski. On 1 January 2009, the brigade was formed around three battalions: Scouts Battalion, Kalev Infantry Battalion, and the Combat Service Support Battalion. On 1 August 2014, Viru Infantry Battalion, Engineer Battalion, Air Defence Battalion and Artillery Battalion of the former North-Eastern Defence District were added to the 1st Infantry Brigade and headquarters was moved to Tapa.


1st Infantry Brigade (Estonia), Current structure
Around 1800 conscripts are serving at different units of the brigade at the same time along with professional soldiers.


1st Infantry Brigade (Estonia), Current structure, Equipment
Brigade units is armed with CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, Pasi armoured personnel carriers, FH70 and D30 howitzers, Mistral and ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft systems and Javelin anti-tank missiles. The Brigade uses a fleet of MB Unimog, MB Actros, Volvo FMX, DAF trucks, BV-206 amphibious carriers and MB GD240 jeeps.


1st Infantry Brigade (Hungary)
The 1st Infantry Brigade was a formation of the Royal Hungarian Army that participated in the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia during World War II.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa)
The South African 1st Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World Wars I and II. During World War I, the Brigade served as a British formation in Egypt and on the Western Front, most famously the Battle of Delville Wood. It was reactivated at the start of the Second World War as a South African formation and served in East Africa and the Western Desert; the Brigade disbanded on 1 January 1943.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I
When the First World War broke out in 1914, the South African government chose to join the war on the side of the Allies. General Louis Botha, the then prime minister, faced widespread Afrikaner opposition to fighting alongside Great Britain so soon after the Second Boer War and had to put down a revolt by some of the more militant elements before he could mobilise and deploy troops as an expeditionary force (some 67,000 troops) to invade German South-West Africa (now Namibia).


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I
The South African Union Defence Act of 1914 prohibited the deployment of South African troops beyond the borders of the South Africa and its immediate neighbouring territories. To send troops to Europe to support the Commonwealth in World War I, Generals Botha and Smuts created the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force. However, because of the limitations of the Defence Act, they issued a General Order (Order 672 of 1915) which stated that "The South African Overseas Expeditionary Force will [sic] be Imperial and have the status of regular British Troops."


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I
"Status" was meant to imply administrative purposes, as Britain was paying for the maintenance of the force in the field for the sake of local political sensitivities. Regrettably, this Administrative Order later meant that the South African units which served as part of the Overseas Expeditionary Force were not, as South African units, entitled to retain Regimental Colours awarded to them for battles fought as "British" units. The 1st Infantry Brigade Group was the first unit to be formed as a constituent part of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Mobilisation
The brigade was commanded by Brigadier General H.T. (Tim) Lukin and consisted of four regiments recruited from existing military units as well as amongst civilians. Regiments were raised in the four provinces of South Africa:


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Mobilisation
The Brigade, numbering 160 officers and 5 648 other ranks, embarked for England from Cape Town and were quartered at Bordon in Hampshire, where, for the next two months, they underwent training.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, North Africa
During December 1915 it was decided to send the South African brigade to Egypt, where the Senussi tribe led by Gaafer Pasha, was threatening to overrun the country. On 23 January 1916 the 2nd South African Infantry Regiment first saw action at Halaxin. Brig Gen Lukin's column of the Western Frontier Force comprised; 1st and 3rd South African Infantry Regiments, The Dorsetshire Yeomanry, the 1st/6th Royal Scots, a squadron of The Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry and the Nottinghamshire Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, North Africa
They marched along the coast and engaged the enemy at the Battle of Agagia on 26 February 1916. With the aid of the Dorsetshire Yeomanry's cavalry the Senussi were routed and Gaafer Pasha and his staff captured. After successfully bringing this brief campaign to a close, Brig Gen Lukin and his brigade were transferred to France.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, The Somme Offensive
The Somme offensive opened on 1 July 1916 and was initially intended as a diversionary battle to draw German forces away from the French front at Verdun which was under severe pressure. Allied Command hoped that the preliminary barrage would destroy the German trenches, exterminating the defenders and enabling the Allied infantry to occupy the German lines with minimal opposition. This initial bombardment failed to neutralise the German infantry and British suffered in excess of 54 000 casualties in the first day's fighting, of whom over 19 000 were killed.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, The Somme Offensive
The losses of 1 July 1916 were considerable and only countered partially by the successes achieved the same day in Gen Rawlinson's XIII Corps sector, and this was to dramatically influence the South African Brigade in the coming offensive. General Haig realised that he had to capitalise on the successes achieved on the right of the British line and he urged General Rawlinson to exploit this by securing Mametz Wood and the Contalmaison area to prepare for an attack on the German second line on the Longueval-Bazentin le Petit ridge. This attack would extend on the right to Longueval Village and Delville Wood. First, however, Bernafay Wood and Trones Wood, which were situated to the south of Longueval Village and Delville Wood, would have to be captured.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Longueval
The plan called for the 9th (Scottish) Division (which included the 1st South African Infantry Brigade) to be brought forward from reserve to the new line extending from Montauban to the south of Trones Wood. After coming forward, the division was told to prepare for the second stage of the battle, an assault on Longueval scheduled for 7 July. In advancing to the start-line, the 2nd South African Infantry Regiment (at that time, the reserve battalion), relieved two battalions of the 27th Brigade in Bernafay Wood and incurred over 200 casualties in the process.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Longueval
General Rawlinson decided on a night advance and dawn attack to take the village. The attacking force would consist of the 26th and 27th Brigades of the 9th Division, which would assault the village of Longueval at dawn on 14 July with the South African brigade remaining in reserve. As arranged, at dawn they stormed the German positions and fought their way into Longueval, where hard hand-to-hand fighting ensued.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Longueval
By 0805, the intensity of the fighting compelled Maj Gen W.T. Furse, (Commander of 9th Division), to order the 1st South African Infantry Regiment to advance from reserve in support of the 27th Brigade and by 1230, he instructed the remaining three South African regiments to take and hold Delville Wood as soon as the entire town of Longueval was in Allied hands.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Longueval
At 1300, 12th Royal Scots had pushed through the northern half of Longueval Village but were forced back by a machine gun in the north west corner of Delville Wood. This part of the wood was to remain strongly held and defended by the Germans. Due to delays in preparing the regiments on the start line, as well as problems related to co-ordinating the artillery support, the South African attack was delayed to 06h00 the following morning, particularly as Longueval village had not yet been totally captured and holding the town was considered essential to the capture of Delville Wood.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
The start of what was to become a legend of South African perseverance, loss and tragedy started at 0600 on 15 July 1916. The three remaining regiments of the South African brigade who were under the command of Lt Col William Tanner of the 2nd Regiment, advanced towards the wood with the 2nd and 3rd Regiments in the lead, followed by the 4th Regiment which was in support .


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
The North West corner of the town and the wood was clearly strongly held by the Germans, but the positions in the rest of the wood were unclear, with the South Africans being uncertain as to who were friendly forces and who were enemy. Led by a guide from the 5th Camerons, the three regiments advanced from the junction of Montauban and Bazentin Roads through a portion of the south end of Longueval and across the fields to Buchanan Street trench. Tanner established his headquarters at Buchanan Street and sent the 3rd Regiment to the far side of the wood. Tanner's 2nd Regiment followed the 3rd Regiment but branched off to the north. C Company, 2nd Regiment manned the southern perimeter close to Longueval. (See Map).


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
Shelling was extremely heavy with severe losses. Medical orderlies were being called for everywhere, on all fronts the supply of stretchers soon ran out. In addition, on the eastern perimeter there was confusion as to whether the men moving about outside the wood were French or German. The destruction of a Lewis Gun from this area soon confirmed that the forces were German. By 1000 casualties were mounting, particularly amongst Vickers and Lewis gun sections and calls for artillery support were coming in from all three regiments. By noon, ammunition stocks were running seriously low, and by 1600 the Germans mounted a strong counter attacks on the left flank (2nd Regiment) but were repelled. As dusk fell, the South Africans manning the perimeters entrenched themselves, despite continuous enemy shelling and sniping.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
The morning of 16 July, Brig Gen Lukin was ordered to support an attack by 11th Royal Scots (part of 27th Brigade) on the orchard situated in the northern sector of Longueval, between North Street and Flers Road. The 11th Royal Scots would attack along North Street, whilst B and C Companies of the 1st South African Infantry Regiment would attack northwards in the wood parallel to the Royal Scots. The combined attack was launched at l000 and was met by machine gun and rifle fire.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
Both assaults failed and survivors scrambled back to their positions, to face a day of shelling and sniping (Refer Map). Later the morning, Brig Gen Lukin visited Lt Col F.S. Dawson (OC of 1st South African Infantry Regiment) in Longueval and Dawson stressed to the brigade commander that the men were exhausted. Lukin replied that there could be no relief for several days. German artillery continued to pound the South Africans in the wood for the remainder of the day and well into the night.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
During the night of 16/17 July the north-west corner of Delville Wood was subjected to an Allied artillery barrage to support a combined attack by the 27th Brigade and 1st South African Infantry Regiment to be initiated by dawn. Once again the attack met with fierce resistance and it too failed. Brig Gen Lukin again visited the battalion commanders in Longueval during the day and on his return to brigade headquarters he telephoned Maj Gen Furse and pointed out that his troops were exhausted. Furse replied that the wood was to be held at all costs.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
By mid morning, medical orderlies could no longer cope with all of the wounded. The Germans were becoming more active in the north western sector of Delville Wood and at 1400 German batteries from Ginchy began bombarding the wood followed by an attack from the north-west, reaching Princes Street, but they were halted and then driven back by a counter-attack. That night the British artillery fired on the Germans who were east of Delville Wood with many shells falling short, amongst the South Africans. This was again followed by German artillery commencing their barrage on the wood. Many of the 186 German guns involved had been hurriedly transported from Verdun and explosions illuminated the forest in flashes, making sleep virtually impossible.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
Fighting continued throughout the day and that night, the Germans withdrew from the north-west corner of Delville Wood and northern Longueval to enable their artillery to bombard the entire Wood and village. This withdrawal allowed the 1st South African Regiment to push northwards and to link up with the 76th Brigade (3rd Division), which was similarly advancing on Longueval. The junction did not last long; at 08h00 on 18 July the German artillery commenced firing on Delville Wood again, but this time from three sides and the bombardment endured for seven-and-a-half hours. At times the incidence of explosions was seven per second. On that day, in an area less than one square mile, 20 000 shells fell.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
At 1450 Lukin advised Tanner, who had been wounded, that he was to assign command of the forces in the Wood to Colonel Thackeray of the 3rd Regiment. He was instructed to bring forward all scratch reinforcements he could find and to take over command of the South African troops in the Wood, which he did – entering the wood with 150 men, all of whom were battle-weary as the result of three days fighting. All Companies were by now calling for reinforcements or requesting authority to withdraw from the area being pounded by artillery.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
The reply was that "...Delville Wood is to be held at all costs." Casualties were further increasing by the hour in all sectors and in the early afternoon, A and C Companies of the 3rd Regiment were overrun by the Germans, who approached from the rear; through the devastated wood. Mud blown up by the intense barrage had caused most weapons to stop working, cleaning equipment had all been consumed and the troops had now been without food for over 72 hours and more importantly – they were now without water too.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
Another German attack at 1700 was rebuffed but by now, companies were reduced to so few men, that they could no longer be considered as viable fighting units. The South Africans still held an uncertain perimeter but German incursions through their line into the wood were now becoming more and more frequent, simply due to the lack of troops to cover the long perimeter line.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
The Germans commenced their advance at 0600 on 19 July. Colonel Konemann led a German force comprising elements of the 153rd Infantry Reserve Regiment and two companies of the 52nd Infantry Reserve Regiment from the north into Delville Wood, attacking B Company of the 3rd South African Regiment. The 2nd Regiment had been decimated the previous day and had left a large gap on the left flank of the 3rd Regiment and this was where the German penetration was made. With so few men left, the German assault could not be countered and the remaining members of the 3rd Regiment were taken prisoner.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
The Wood was by now, void of any vegetation and German machine guns and snipers were taking their toll those left within the 2nd Regiment. Continued calls for reinforcements were met with words of encouragement, rather than with fresh troops – as fighting on all remaining fronts prevented any troop movement and had already consumed all available reserves. At dawn on 20 July, Colonel Thackeray despatched a message to Lukin, urgently requesting supplies, water and ammunition. Despite their perilous situation, the South African survivors continued to fight.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
Unknown to Thackeray, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Headquarters, Machine Gunners and signallers) were trying to advance to relieve the South Africans, but were continually driven back and were unable to reach them. By 1300 Thackeray sent a signal to Lukin stating that "....Urgent. My men are on their last legs. I cannot keep some of them awake. They drop with their rifles in hand asleep in spite of heavy shelling. We are expecting an attack. Even that cannot keep some of them from dropping down. Food and water has not reached us for two days – though we have managed on rations of those killed ...but must have water."


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
Efforts by the Brigade Major John Mitchell-Baker eventually managed to secure additional troops to try to relieve the remaining South Africans. At 1615 Brigadier-General H.W. Higginson of the 53rd Brigade reported that The Suffolk [Suffolk Regiment] and 6 R Berks [6th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment] had been ordered to relieve them. When the Suffolks and Berks reached them, Thackeray and his remaining two officers, Lt Edward Phillips and 2 Lt Garnet Green, had all been wounded. He and Phillips led the 120 survivors of the 3rd Regiment out of the Wood. Green brought up the rear and was the last South African to leave the wood.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
On reaching safety, Thackeray reported "...I am glad to report that the troops under my command (the 3rd Regiment) carried out your instructions to hold Delville Wood at all costs and that not a single detachment of this regiment retired from their position, either on the perimeter of the Wood or from the support trenches."


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Delville Wood
Historians today agree that the losses incurred by the South African Infantry Brigade holding Delville Wood had no strategic purpose, as did that of the entire Somme offensive, of which Delville Wood formed a small part.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Western Front, Casualties
The most costly action that the South African forces on the Western Front fought was the Battle of Delville Wood in 1916 – of the 3,153 men from the brigade who entered the wood, only 780 were present at the roll call after their relief.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Demobilisation, The end in France
By the time the South Africans crossed the River Selle at Le Cateau, it was evident that the war was drawing to a close. The SA Brigade was withdrawn from the line at 0130 on 20 October 1918 and marched via Reumont to Serain. The brigade remained at Serain until 1 November 1918.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Demobilisation, Volunteers to support the White Russians
In December 1917, the Don Cossacks had risen in revolt against the Communist Government in Russia. With light skirmishes at first, in the areas of Odessa, Kiev, Orel, Voronezh, Tsaritsyn and even reaching to Astrakhan at the mouth of the Volga, the uprising grew in size and geographic distribution. In August 1918, a small British-French-American force under command of Major General Sir Edmund Ironside had arrived at Archangelsk, with the stated purpose of retrieving war material loaned to the previous Tsarist Regime.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Demobilisation, Volunteers to support the White Russians
They were also tasked with to moving south to link up with the 42,000 strong Czechoslovak Legion enveloped in Russia, assisting them to return home. It was hoped that the presence of this Allied force, as well as the Czechoslovak force moving back towards Germany, would firstly invigorate the White Russian counter-revolution to oust the Communists and secondly, to encourage the Czechoslovaks to take up arms against Germany – with the aim of re-opening a second front against Germany.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Demobilisation, Volunteers to support the White Russians
By this time, a number of South African officers were already fighting on the side of the White Russians against the Communists. With the signing of the Armistice marking the end of the war on 11 November 1918, thousands of South Africans were released from their duties in Western Europe, many of whom preferred to volunteer for services in support of the White Russians, rather than returning home.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War I, Demobilisation, Volunteers to support the White Russians
Many South Africans not only joined the White Russian forces, but were awarded honours for service in Russia, including Lt-Col H.H. Jenkins, the erstwhile commander of the 1st South African Infantry Regiment as well as the new commander of the 4th South African Infantry Regiment, Lt-Col D.M. McCloud, with the men either joining General Ironside's staff, or affiliating themselves directly with White Russian forces. Two Victoria Cross holders also joined this voluntary force.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War II
Brigades were reformed in the Active Citizen Force (ACF) for the first time since the First World War in 1926. In 1934 a 1st Brigade of the ACF of the UDF was listed as comprising 1 Royal Natal Carbineers, 2 RNC, the Umvoti [Mounted Rifles] and Natal Mounted Rifles, and the Durban Light Infantry. Brigade commanders were nominated by 1934 as well, and Colonel H. Mayne VD became commander of the 1st Brigade. In 1940, the Union Defence Forces formed a new series of divisions for service in World War II. The 1st Brigade was earmarked for service with the 1st South African Division.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War II
The brigade assembled in Pretoria under the command of Colonel John Daniel in early May 1940. He was replaced a few weeks later by Brigadier Dan Pienaar. On formation the brigade included three infantry battalions, the 1st Battalion Transvaal Scottish Regiment, the 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles and the 1st Battalion of the Royal Natal Carbineers. Soon after its formation, the brigade received transport for equipping one motorised battalion, and this was assigned to the 1st Transvaal Scottish.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War II
The Brigade assembled at Sonderwater, located east of Cullinan, and took part in a pre-departure parade attended by General J.C. Smuts, the prime minister and defence minister, on 13 July 1940. The date also celebrated the Delville Wood Day, as the anniversary of a battle on the Western Front in July 1916 when the 1st South African Brigade had advanced into the Delville Wood. The next day the Brigade entrained for Durban, and on 16 July embarked by ship for Mombasa, Kenya where it commenced training not far from Nairobi in the Kenyan Highlands.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War II
On 6 September 1940, the 1st Transvaal Scottish was transferred to the 2nd East African Brigade under British command, and took part in the first action involving South African ground troops in the Second World War near Liboi when a column was attacked by a force of Banda and Italian Colonial infantry.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War II
Although nominally part of the 1st South African Division, the brigade was deployed under 11th and 12th African Divisions. It fought in the campaign in Italian Somaliland, and in the conquest of Ethiopia in 1941.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), World War II
From East Africa, the brigade – reassigned to 1st South African Division – was transferred to Egypt. It fought in the North Africa campaign from July 1941 until after the Battle of El Alamein in October/November 1942. The brigade returned to South Africa in January 1943, and was converted into the 1st South African Armoured Brigade, to serve as a training formation for the rest of the war.


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), Order of battle, World War I
Brigade commanded by Brigadier-General H.T. Lukin later Maj-Gen commanding 9th Division, replaced by Brig-Gen Dawson


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), Order of battle, World War II
Order of Battle as at 17 October 1942. Brigade commanded by Brigadier E.P. Hartshorn


1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa), Battle honours, World War I
Honours shown in bold are emblazoned on the regimental colours of the four regiments:


1st Infantry Division "Superga"
The 1st Infantry Division "Superga" (Italian: 1ª Divisione fanteria "Superga") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Superga was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops. The Superga was formed in 1940 in Turin and named for the Superga hill, where members of Italy's Royal House of Savoy were buried in the Basilica of Superga. The division was part of the 4th Army's I Army Corps during the Italian invasion of France.


1st Infantry Division "Superga", History
On 10 June 1940 the Superga division was assigned to France invasion force. Superga has captured the French village of Argentière 21 June 1940, reaching Battaileres pass and mount Argentiere summit 22 June 1940. On 24 June 1940, just before the armistice, the Division attacked the Ouvrage Pas du Roc in the Alpine Line. Supported by its neighbor, Ouvrage Arrondaz and others, the fort repelled the attack. The Division was moved from Turin to Naples in August, 1941. In March, 1942, division headquarters moved to Avola in Sicily island, while bulk of forces remained around Naples.


1st Infantry Division "Superga", History
The Division was reorganized into assault and landing type in April, 1942 for the planned invasion of Malta. Between May 1942 and October 1942 main Division forces were concentrated around cities Formia and Gaeta.


1st Infantry Division "Superga", History
The Superga Division was sent to Tunisia in November 1942, landing in Bizerte 11 November 1942. By 20 November 1942 it was fighting near Enfidaville Airfield. By 1 December 1942 the Superga Division has moved to Sousse-Sfax area. On 26 December 1942 it was deployed on the southern outskirts of Tunis. From late January, 1943 until 4 February 1943 it repelled an Anglo-American assault on Oued el Koukat depression. The second assault on positions of Superga division has started 23 February 1943. The Superga Division surrendered to the British forces 12 May 1943.


1st Infantry Division (Azerbaijan, 1918)
1st Infantry Division (Azerbaijani: Birinci Piyada Diviziyası), was an infantry division in the National Army of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.


1st Infantry Division (Azerbaijan, 1918), History
The division was originally formed in late 1917. Formation of the division was carried out by its commander, Khalil bey Talyshkinski. Although the division was structured within the Azerbaijani Special Corps. However, because the formation of Azerbaijani military units did not meet the necessary requirements, ASC and the 1st Infantry Division were disorganized and units within these structures were subordinated to the Islamic Army of the Caucasus on August 13, 1918. The reorganization of the infantry divisions and ASC started after the successful liberation of Baku.


1st Infantry Division (Azerbaijan, 1918), History
Colonel Jamil Jahid Bey was appointed commander of the division, and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd infantry regiments joined the division on September 23, 1918. The 9th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Caucasian Infantry Division of the Caucasus Army Group also joined this division in order to accelerate its reorganization. Major General Ibrahim agha Usubov from Karabakh was appointed the commander of the division after the Ottoman army left Azerbaijan in mid-November 1918. Nevertheless, Major General Suleyman bey Efendiyev was appointed the commander of the division on January 1, 1919.


1st Infantry Division (Azerbaijan, 1918), History
Javad bey Shikhlinsky was appointed the commander of the division after the death of Efendiyev on February 21, 1919. By the decision of the Council of Ministers dated June 25, 1919, Javad bey Shikhlinsky was awarded the rank of Major General for his services in the formation and strengthening of the division. 1st Javanshir, 2nd Zagatala and 3rd Ganja infantry regiments were part of the division and they were situated in Ganja. The regiments of the division were usually in line of contact with the Armenian forces.


1st Infantry Division (Azerbaijan, 1918), History
They fought in Zangezur, Karabakh, and took part in consolidation of the northern defense systems. After the Operation Baku in 1920, 1st and 2nd infantry divisions were merged into Unified Red Division of the Workers and Peasants by the order of the People's Military and Naval Commissar on May 16, 1920.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium)
The 1st Infantry Division (Dutch: 1de Infanterie Divisie) is a Infantry Division of the Belgian Army that fought in the Battle of Belgium against the German Armed Forces.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War I
At the start of World War I, the 1st Infantry Division was classified as ‘1st Division’, commanded by Lieutenant-General Baix. The headquarters were located at Ghent and the division was composed of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Mixed Brigades with limited Cavalry support from the 3rd Lancers Regiment. Artillery units came from the 1st Artillery Regiment.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
The 1st Infantry Division was active before mobilization was announced, therefore, the units of the division already had a reconnaissance unit, a transportation unit, and a medical unit, making it one of the most strongest divisions in the entire Belgian Army. The 1st Infantry Division is placed near the Hasselt sector of the Albert Canal.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
The 1st Infantry Division heavily fortified its position when the German attack was confirmed. Yet, the Germans breach the line, and fierce fighting erupts. The 1st Infantry Division had to retreat from the Albert Canal. The 1st Infantry Division was recalled to the K-W line and part of its division(3rd Line Regiment) was sent to the Demer position.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
When recalled for action again, 1st Infantry Division was now responsible of a large section of the K-W line, extending the defenses from Beigem to Nieuwenrode. On May 15, redeployment helped bolster the lines.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
On May 16, an unexpected retreat and abandonment of the K-W line by the Allied forces (French 1st Army, and the British Expeditionary Force) forced the Belgians to withdraw, and the 1st Infantry Division was assigned the task of slowing the German advance in the Northern sector while a new defense was being constructed in the south.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
The 1st Infantry Division succeeds in their operations and thousands of troops make it to the newly coordinated Terneuzen-Oudenaarde line. But soon, a counterattack by the Germans in the North resulted in threatening the flanks of forces defending the Scheldt Canal, and so, the 1st Infantry Division construct new positions near the town of Sint-Amands. The line was untenable and the Division was pushed to Ghent.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
After the encirclement of the Allied forces in Northern France and Flanders, things escalated from bad to worse. The German pressure steadily increased and eventually, Ghent was evacuated.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
The 1st Infantry Division had taken up positions on the new defense in the Korkrijk-Menen sector, and Korkrijk specifically, was heavily reinforced. There was a concern about Menen though. No British forces were ever seen in the city, with only some French Sappers manning the bridges.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
In Korkrijk, things developed really badly for the 1st Infantry Division. The German attack heavily deterred the regiments deployed there and after some time, a breach was already made.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
The division had to retreat to a new defense by May 26. Only three antitank weapons survived the German attack. Out of all the Infantry Divisions now under the single command of I Corp, the 1st Infantry Division took the most damage, having one mixed battalion left, formed out of only 4 companies.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), History, World War II
This battalion was transferred to 6th Infantry Division, meaning that the 1st Infantry Division is stripped of strength. The remainder of this division will be dissolved following Belgian surrender.


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), Structure, 1914
After mobilization, 1st division's structure in 1914 was as follows:


1st Infantry Division (Belgium), Structure, 1940
Structure of the division at the eve of the Battle of Belgium.


1st Infantry Division (Greece)
The 1st Infantry Division "Smyrni" (Greek: I Μεραρχία Πεζικού «ΣΜΥΡΝΗ» (Ι ΜΠ), romanized: I Merarchía Pezikoú "Smýrni") is a historic and elite division of the Hellenic Army. It was founded in 1897 as an infantry division and has fought in all major conflicts in which Greece has been involved. During the Balkan Wars, it acquired the sobriquet "Iron Division" (Greek: «Σιδηρά Μεραρχία», romanized: Sidirá Merarchía).


1st Infantry Division (Greece)
It is currently headquartered in Veroia, Macedonia. Despite its title, it is no longer a conventional infantry division, but a formation comprising the various special forces of the Hellenic Army - a role similar to that once held by the now disbanded 3rd Special Forces Division.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Greco-Turkish War of 1897
The 1st Infantry Division was established in Larissa on 19 March 1897 before the outbreak of, and in response to, the Greco-Turkish War. Formed, predominantly, from personnel recruited from Thessaly, it originally comprised two infantry brigades (1st and 2nd) and three Evzone battalions, and was tasked with the defence of the frontier from the Thermaic Gulf (near the Tria Platania heights) to the Bogazi pass, near Tyrnavos. Its first commander was Major General Nikolaos Makris.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Greco-Turkish War of 1897
Based in Rapsani, on the division's right flank, was the Nezeros Detachment (Απόσπασμα Νεζερού Apospasma Nezerou), consisting of the three Evzone battalions and two companies from the 5th Infantry Regiment. The left flank, from Godoman to Bogazi, was controlled by the 2nd Infantry Brigade, based at Tyrnavos. The 1st Infantry Brigade was kept in reserve at Larissa. Divisional Command, under Major-General Nikolaos Makris, was also based in Larissa.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Greco-Turkish War of 1897
On 4 April 1897, an exchange of fire between soldiers from opposing outposts at Bairaktari gradually escalated to skirmishes along the frontier in the Rapsani sector. The next morning, the Nezerou Detachment launched a major attack, captured most of the Turkish outposts and forced a retreat along the line. Turkish counter-attacks were held back on the flanks, but the three Greek battalions defending the center were soon overwhelmed by twenty-two Turkish battalions and five artillery batteries. Greek forces quickly retreated to Mati, leaving the Melouna Pass undefended. As a result, the 2nd Infantry Brigade was also forced to retreat to Mati.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Greco-Turkish War of 1897
The Nezeros Detachment was again forced to abandon its positions near Mati on 9 April 1897 and retreat towards the Pineios River. The battle at Deleria on 11 April 1897 resulted in a defeat for the division, which continued their retreat towards Larissa. The 1st Infantry Division, beaten and demoralized, marched towards Farsala where on 23 April 1897, the Turkish Army attacked the Greek 1st and 2nd Brigades on the northern outskirts of the town. In danger of being cut-off and surrounded, the division was able to regroup and retreat to Domokos where they formed a defensive line on the right flank of the Greek Army.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Greco-Turkish War of 1897
Led by the 3rd Infantry Division, the Turkish offensive on the right flank of the Greek 1st Infantry Division on 5 May 1897 forced a Greek retreat, again, towards Vouzi. The division's center, under attack by the Turkish 6th Infantry Division, also retreated. However, on the left flank, the Greek units were able to defend successfully against the Turkish 2nd Infantry Division. Another Turkish attack on the left flank on 6 May 1897 was repelled, but the 1st Infantry Division was ordered to retreat to, and hold the line, at Lamia.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Greco-Turkish War of 1897
A ceasefire was agreed at midday on 7 May 1897. The 1st Infantry Division had lost 232 killed and 842 wounded. Greece's defeat in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 had highlighted the many deficiencies of the Greek military. Through the efforts of Georgios Theotokis and Eleftherios Venizelos plans were put in place to modernize and improve the capabilities of the Greek Army, eventually leading to French involvement and the adoption of the triangular division.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, First Balkan War
At the outbreak of the First Balkan War, under the command of Major-General Emmanouil Manousogiannakis, the 1st Infantry Division was attached to the Army of Thessaly. The division comprised the following units:


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, First Balkan War
On 5 October 1912, the division moved to, and recaptured, the Melouna Pass. The engagement resulted in the first casualties for the newly reorganized division (9 killed, 20 wounded). Ordered to defend the Tyrnavos-Kazaklar sector while the rest of the Greek Army mobilized, the 1st Division was reinforced by four Evzone battalions. On 6 October 1912, the division attacked well-entrenched Turkish positions on the northern outskirts of Elassona. The battle was hard-fought, with victory for the Greeks secured when forces on the division's right flank captured Turkish positions on the Tsaritsani heights. The Turks were soon forced to abandon their positions around the town.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, First Balkan War
The 1st Division then marched toward Sarantaporo, arriving in the area on the night of 8 October 1912. The Ottoman VIII Corps, ordered to halt the Greek Army's advance north, had retreated and regrouped around the town. On 9 October 1912, during the Battle of Sarantaporo, the 1st Infantry Division, along with the 2nd and 3rd divisions, began a full frontal assault on Turkish positions. Withstanding heavy casualties during their advance, primarily due to accurate Turkish artillery barrage, the 1st Division managed to capture a shoulder and two nearby hillocks.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, First Balkan War
On the division's right wing, the Konstantinopoulos Evzone Detachment (Απόσπασμα Ευζώνων Κωνσταντινόπουλου Apospasma Evzonon Konstadinopoulou) was able to advance and capture Turkish positions at Livadi. The Greek 4th Infantry Division, in the meantime, had broken through Turkish lines on the western flank and captured the Porta Pass. On the night of 9 October 1912 Turkish forces, taking advantage of the bad weather, retreated and escaped encirclement. A Turkish battalion remained, facing the Konstantinopoulos Detachment's positions at Livadi, oblivious to their comrades' retreat. On the morning of 10 October 1912, the Evzones attacked the Turks, forcing them to retreat to Neochori.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, First Balkan War
The two-day battle had cost the 1st Infantry Division 53 killed (5 officers and 48 enlisted) and 399 wounded (12 officers and 387 enlisted).


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Second Balkan War
The 1st Infantry Division was ordered to the area between Lake Volvi and Lake Langada, east of Thessaloniki, at the outbreak of the Second Balkan War. On 19 June 1913, the division assaulted Bulgarian positions at Ossa, taking the town the same day. The assault cost the division 9 killed and 79 wounded. The following day, with the arrival of the 6th Infantry Division, which had just lost 530 men in the successful capture of the Dichalo-Klepe line, two divisions marched north to engage the Bulgarian Army, which had heavily entrenched itself around Lahanas. The 1st Infantry Division assaulted and captured Vertiskos, then joined its left flank with the 6th Division’s right, which had arrived from the west.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Second Balkan War
On 20 June 1913 the two divisions attacked the main Bulgarian defensive lines at Lachanas while encountering a heavy barrage from well-positioned Bulgarian artillery. The Bulgarians tenaciously defended their positions, repelling Greek attacks until night, when there was a break in the battle. On the morning of 21 June 1913, the 5th Infantry Regiment was ordered to detach and prepare to move to assist Greek forces engaged at Kilkis. The Bulgarians, observing the Greek 3/5 Battalion’s withdrawal, launched an attack on the 1/5 Battalion’s positions near the town of Kydonia, forcing it to retreat with heavy losses. The commander of the 5th Infantry Regiment, seeing the town fall, took personal command of the 2/5 Battalion and launched a successful counter-attack on the advancing Bulgarians.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Second Balkan War
On the afternoon of 21 June 1913 the two Greek divisions, in coordination with artillery, launched an assault on the defensive lines of the Bulgarians, forcing their disorderly retreat towards the River Strymon. The 1st Infantry Division lost 11 officers and 180 enlisted soldiers killed in the engagement, including the commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment – Colonel Ioannis Papakyriazis. The wounded were 30 officers and 836 enlisted soldiers, with 211 missing in action.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Second Balkan War
Soon after the battle, the 1st, along with the 6th and 7th divisions, were formed into an Army Section with the purpose of discovering and eliminating Bulgarian forces in the area around Sidirokastro. Commanded by Manousogiannakis, the section began its mission on 26 June 1913, fighting its way towards Sidirokastron and eventually taking the town. However, the Bulgarian 3rd Infantry Division managed to escape capture by retreating through the Rupel Pass. The two-day battle cost the 1st Division 4 killed, 75 wounded and 36 missing.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Second Balkan War
Bulgarian forces regrouped at Kresna Gorge to avoid encirclement with orders to hold the line along Ruggen, Kresna and Pirin. Greek GHQ ordered four divisions, including the 1st, to find a way to break through the Bulgarian line. During the Battle of Kresna Gorge, the 1st Infantry Division managed to drive back the Bulgarian rear-guard and capture a foothold at the southern end of the Kresna pass. The Bulgarian 2nd and 4th Armies, recently arrived from the Serbian front, ambushed Greek forces but were soon beaten back. The 1st Division advanced towards the stronghold of Simitli, which it captured after a two-day battle and the loss of 42 killed and 349 wounded.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Post-Balkan Wars period and World War I
In August 1913, the division was subordinated to the newly formed I Army Corps at its peacetime garrison at Larissa. During the National Schism, the division was demobilized and effectively disbanded in 1916.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Post-Balkan Wars period and World War I
In 1917, when Greece joined World War I on the side of the Entente Powers, the division was reconstituted as part of I Corps, and fought in the Macedonian Front.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Asia Minor Campaign
On the afternoon of 11 May 1919, the commander of the 1st Infantry Division, Colonel Nikolaos Zafeiriou, received orders to mobilize the division for deployment at the port of Kavala. As a component of the I Army Corps, the division consisted of the following units:


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Asia Minor Campaign
On 15 May 1919, the division landed at Smyrna. The 1/38 Evzone Regiment was forced to land north of where it was to be stationed and had to march southward, past the Ottoman Konak and Turkish barracks. A shot was fired by Turkish journalist Hasan Tahsin, killing the Greek standard-bearer and resulting in the Greek troops attacking the Konak and barracks, whose troops surrendered and were subsequently escorted to a prison ship. The incident was the catalyst for an outbreak of violence and disorder in the city, which lasted for days. The first phase of the Asia Minor Campaign had begun.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Asia Minor Campaign
The 1st Infantry Division was soon ordered to occupy the Vilayet of Aydin in the Menderes River (Meander) valley (including the towns of Aydın, Manisa and Turgutlu). On 27 June 1919 a Greek patrol, from one of the two Greek regiments based at Aydın, was attacked by irregular Turkish forces of Yörük Ali Efe at Malgaç train station, south of the town. In retaliation, surrounding villages were burned by Greek detachments but they were soon repulsed and pushed back towards Aydin.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Asia Minor Campaign
Surrounded and under heavy attack by the Turks, Greek soldiers evacuated on 30 June 1919, allowing Yörük Ali's irregulars to take control of the town. With the help of reinforcements sent by General Nider, the Greeks recaptured Aydin on 4 July 1919. Most of the casualties in the Battle of Aydın were civilians, both Turkish and Greek, victims of atrocities by Greek soldiers and Turkish irregulars, respectively.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Asia Minor Campaign
Between March and June 1920 the 1st Division had moved to the northern edge of the Smyrna Zone in preparation for a major offensive on 10 June 1920. Units of the Greek I Army Corps began their attack on Turkish forces, the 1st Division advancing towards the Ovacik-Keles-Chaous Dag line. The offensive, which inflicted heavy losses on the Ottoman Army, saw Greek forces advance and secure the area as far east as Alaşehir. Less than a week after the Treaty of Sèvres, the Greek I Army Corps advanced to Uşak, with the 1st Division establishing its headquarters at Buladan.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Asia Minor Campaign
Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos was voted out of power on 1 November 1920, forcing his withdrawal from politics. With the recall of King Constantine I on 6 December 1920 by a plebiscite, the anti-Venizelists took the opportunity to dismiss many experienced, yet pro-Venizelist, officers from their commands in Asia Minor, replacing them with inexperienced, but politically reliable, officers.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Greco-Italian War
Following the Italian invasion of Greece from Albania on 28 October 1940, the 1st Division, under Major General Vasileios Vrachnos, was one of the first Greek units sent to confront the invasion. The division played a crucial role in the Battle of Pindus, defeating the elite 3rd Alpine Division Julia, and again during the repulsion of the Italian Spring Offensive of March 1941, at the Battle of Hill 731. After the German invasion of Greece and the capitulation of the Greek army, the division was disbanded.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Post-war period
The 1st Division was reconstituted at Lamia in March 1948, and took part in the operations of the final year of the Greek Civil War. Between 1950 and 1954, it was moved to Konitsa, Tyrnavos, and Katerini, before being disbanded and converted to a reserve cadre formation, based at Larissa and later at Volos.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Post-war period
The division was mobilized in 1974, during the crisis around the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and placed under the command of II Army Corps, moving its headquarters to Giannitsa. On 4 March 1998, the division was converted to an operational headquarters for II Corps, moving on 30 June 2003 to Agia Varvara, Imathia.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Post-war period
In the 1990s and 2000s, the 1st Division oversaw the training and deployment of Greek peacekeeping forces in the Balkans: in Bosnia (IFOR–SFOR), Albania during the Albanian Civil War of 1997 (Operation Alba), and Afghanistan (ISAF).


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Post-war period
Following a major reorganization of the Hellenic Army in 2013, the division moved to Veroia and took over most of the operational responsibilities of II Corps, which was disbanded, and took under its command the Army's special forces, marines, and air-mobile forces. As a result, 1st Division has no specific geographic area of responsibility, but is an elite intervention force under the operational control of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), History, Post-war period
The division continues to be responsible for many of the Hellenic Army's international obligations: the 71st Airmobile Brigade, the 1st Army Aviation Brigade, and II Raider Squadron form part of the NATO Response Force under NRDC-GR headquarters, while the 71st Airmobile Brigade participates in the Balkan Battlegroup, and the 32nd Marines Brigade in the Spanish–Italian Amphibious Battlegroup.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), Emblem and Motto
The emblem depicts a tsaroúhi, the traditional footwear of the Evzones, and a bayonet.


1st Infantry Division (Greece), Emblem and Motto
The motto of the I Infantry Division is "(Like The) Wind" (Greek: Αέρα|translit=Aéra), the traditional battle cry of Greek infantrymen when attacking the enemy.


1st Infantry Division (Independent State of Croatia)
The Croatian 1st Infantry Division (Croatian: 1. pješačka divizija) was an infantry unit in the Army of the Independent State of Croatia during World War II.


1st Infantry Division (Independent State of Croatia)
The 1st Infantry Division was formed on or around August 1, 1941, with Colonel (Pukovnik in the Croatian Army rank) Emanuel Balley in command with its headquarters located at Zagreb. In its order of battle on October 21, 1941, the 1st Infantry Division included the 1st, 2nd, and 11th Infantry Regiments and the I and II Artillery Groups.


1st Infantry Division (Independent State of Croatia)
The 1st Infantry Division was under the subordination of the I Territorial Corps from November 1941 to July 1943. By April 1942 the divisional headquarters had been moved to Bjelovar, east-northeast of Zagreb, where it was still located by February 1943. Divisional garrison responsibilities and tactical operations were carried out by sector commands at Koprivnica, Ludbreg, Križevci, Lepavina, and Varaždinske Toplice.


1st Infantry Division (Independent State of Croatia)
The divisional headquarters and staff were disbanded around August 1, 1943.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines)
The 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, known officially as the Tabak Division, is the Philippine Army's primary infantry unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare. The division has been involved in combating terrorists in Southern Mindanao.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, World War II, 1st Regular Division, Philippine Army during the Japanese Invasion
The establishment of the 1st Regular Division, Philippine Army was on 5 May 1936 to 9 April 1942 and stationed at Camp Murphy (now Camp Aguinaldo) in Quezon City, Rizal (now Metro Manila). The unit engaged in military operations in the Battle of Bataan from 1 – 9 January 9 April 1942 supporting the USAFFE military forces led by General Douglas MacArthur against the Imperial Japanese troops led by General Masaharu Homma.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, World War II, 1st Regular Division, Philippine Army during the Japanese Invasion
When the Battle of Bataan began in January 1942, the local troops of the PCA 1st Regular Division led by Brigadier General Mateo C. Capinpin (1938–1941) and Brigadier General Fidel V. Segundo (1941–1942) was sent to Bataan to augment the USAFFE forces against the Japanese. The battle lasted until April 1942. Before the fall of Bataan, Filipino troops and officers of the 1st


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, World War II, 1st Regular Division, Philippine Army during the Japanese Invasion
Regular Division fought side by side with the USAFFE in Bataan, attacking Japanese troops along the Layac Line, Porac-Guagua Line, Abucay-Mauban Line, Battle of Trail 2, the Battle of the Pockets and the Battle of the Points before the invasion at Mount Samat on 3 April 1942. After the Battle of Bataan on 9 April 1942, the local forces under the PCA 1st Regular Division surrendered to the Japanese Imperial troops. The now infamous Death March commenced the following day with more than 78,000 Filipino and American POWs from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga and by train to Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, World War II, 1st Regular Division, Philippine Army during the Japanese Invasion
After the Fall of Bataan on 1942 by the surrendering troopers of the 1st Regular Division by the Japanese hands in Bataan.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, World War II, 1st Regular Division, Philippine Army during the Japanese Invasion
The 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division traces its beginning from the first regular Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army during the commonwealth period. It was activated on 18 January 1936 with Brigadier General Guillermo B. Francisco as its first Commanding General, initially it was filled up by regular troops from the Philippine Constabulary. It was strengthened in 1941 when World War II loomed in the Pacific region.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, Post-World War II
The Division was formally reactivated just in time for the PA's final offensives in the Central Luzon region against the HMB on 1 March 1956.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, Post-World War II
The Division's BCTs served under the United Nations Command during the Korean War, and the reconstituted division trained AFP elements which composed the PHILCAG sent to Vietnam. It also played a vital role in the anti-insurgency campaign, in the Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley in the 1960s.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, Post-World War II
It was first deployed in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi during the outbreak of the Southern Philippines Secessionist Group in 1973. At present, it continues to operate in Western Mindanao.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, Post-World War II
The 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army also known as Tabak Division, after years on various areas in the county, opened its present headquarters on 4 December 1989 at stationed in Camp Major Cesar L Sang-an in Barangay Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga Del Sur after its stint in Jolo, Sulu.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, Post-World War II
It was redeployed in mainland Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces (ZAMPELAN) to combat the Communist and Islamic rebel fighters and to counter terrorism in Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA) and started the ongoing Islamic and Communist insurgencies in Mindanao in Southern Philippines on 1969 to date against the Communist rebels of the New People's Army (NPA) and the Islamic rebels and bandits of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, Post-World War II
The Headquarters of the 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division is located on a 422.81 hectare military reservation surrounding Barangay Upper Pulacan, in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. This reservation was taken over by the Division from Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM) on 16 August 1987. From being rugged and mountainous, it was slowly developed into a sprawling and thriving military camp with the help of the 545th Engineer Battalion, 52nd Engineering Brigade, Philippine Army.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, Post-World War II
On 4 May 1991, the Camp was named in honor of Major Cesar L. Sang-an who died defending the country's sovereignty against a superior number of MNLF forces of Barangay Malaning, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on 23 March 1973. Sang-an was a brilliant Scout Ranger officer and a courageous fighter. Though twice wounded, he directed and covered his men until he was killed. This heroism earned him the award of the Distinguished Conduct Star (Posthumous) from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was born on 3 November 1926 in Kinogitan, Misamis Oriental.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), History, Mission
The 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division, Philippine Army to conduct reinvigorated Internal Peace and Security Operations (IPSO) in the AOR to neutralize the CTM, destroy the ASG and JI, hold and contain MILF forces while continuing to observe the primacy of the peace process and neutralize other threat groups in order to establish a physically and psychologically secured environment conducive to progress and development.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), 1st Regular Division (PA), 1941–42 Order of Battle
Fully-manned in the summer of 1941, and commanded by the truly formidable BGen. Mateo M. Capinpin, the 1st Regular Division of the Philippine Army completely gave its manpower in late August to help fill in the beginning ranks of the Army's ten Reserve Divisions, which were just being mobilized and manned. From September through late November, the 1st Regular Division was, for all practical purposes, de-activated.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), 1st Regular Division (PA), 1941–42 Order of Battle
But its few personnel who remained—and the American and Philippine area commanders who oversaw the emergency reorganizations—were ready to implement careful plans to reassemble enough personnel to re-activate the 1st Division quickly, and then begin filling back in its ranks. When Japanese hostilities broke out on 8 Dec 1941, the 1st Regular Division was only at cadre strength (just its commissioned and senior non-commissioned officers). Within ten days, 18 Dec 1941, it was re-activated and inducted back into the force tabulations of BGen. George M. Parker's South Luzon Force. Its new commanding general, the tough and brilliant West Pointer, BGen.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), 1st Regular Division (PA), 1941–42 Order of Battle
Fidel V. Segundo (PA), set his hand to the task of continuing to bring the Division's units back up to as full a strength possible, all the while fighting a difficult staged retreat from South Luzon into the Bataan peninsula. The following Order of Battle is from late December 1941, but was more or less what the Division structure was throughout the 1942 Bataan Campaign:


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), Current Units
The following are the Brigade units that are under the First Infantry Division.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), Current Units
The following are the Battalion units under the First Infantry Division.


1st Infantry Division (Philippines), Current Units
The following are the Division Reconnaissance Company units under the First Infantry Division.


1st Infantry Division (Romania)
The 1st Infantry Division Dacica was one of the major units of the Romanian Land Forces, with its headquarters located in Bucharest. It was the heraldic successor of the Romanian First Army. On 31 August 2015, 1st Infantry Division headquarters disbanded, to become, three months later, the Headquarters Multinational Division Southeast of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Naples.


1st Infantry Division (Romania), History
The First Army was one of the major units of the Romanian military in both World War I, partaking in such operations as the Romanian offensive in Transylvania in 1916 and the Battle of Mărăşeşti in 1917, and World War II, seeing action on the Eastern Front, particularly after the 23 August 1944 Coup, when the First Army fought westwards alongside Soviet units in battles such as that of Debrecen, Budapest and going as far as Prague. Following the end of the war, the First Army was disbanded on 2 June 1947, with the units under its command being transferred to one of the four newly formed Military Regions. This reorganization process was applied to all Romanian armies.


1st Infantry Division (Romania), History
On 5 April 1980, the First Army is reestablished and headquartered in Bucharest, after being assigned units previously under the control of the 2nd Army Command. The latter is relocated to Buzău. Dan Ghica-Radu was the intelligence office chief from 1998 until 2000. Starting with 1 August 2000, the First Army is restructured, becoming the 1st Territorial Army Corps "General Ioan Culcer", as part of a process to bring the Romanian military in line with NATO standards. On 15 August 2008, as a continuation of the reorganization process of the Romanian Land Forces, the 1st


1st Infantry Division (Romania), History
Territorial Army Corps "General Ioan Culcer" is reformed as the 1st Infantry Division, receiving the name "Dacica", and is now the heraldic successor of the First Army. Units of the 1st Infantry Division are deployed (or were deployed at some point) in various theaters of operation around the world, such as Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.


1st Infantry Division (Russian Empire)
The 1st Infantry Division (Russian: 1-я пехотная дивизия, 1-ya Pekhotnaya Diviziya) was an infantry formation of the Russian Imperial Army that existed in various formations from 1811 until the end of World War I and the Russian Revolution. From at least 1903 to the end of its existence the division was based in Smolensk.


1st Infantry Division (Russian Empire), History
It was initially formed in 1811 as the 25th Infantry Division, and renumbered as the 1st in 1820. The division took part in the Russo-Japanese War and was located in Manchuria during that time. In August 1914 it was part of the 2nd Army of the Northwestern Front. It was completely destroyed during the Russian invasion of East Prussia by September of that year and was reformed in December 1914. In 1915–17 it was assigned to the 12th Army, 5th Army, and later the 1st Army. It was demobilized around the time of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent unrest.


1st Infantry Division (Russian Empire), Organization
Russian infantry divisions consisted of a staff, two infantry brigades, and one artillery brigade. It was part of the 13th Army Corps as of 1914.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa)
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 division was disbanded on 1 January 1943, for conversion into what would become the 6th South African Armoured Division. The division was also briefly active after the war from 1 July 1948 to 1 November 1949.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war
When Neville Chamberlain declared war on 3 September 1939, the Union Defence Force consisted of 5,385 Permanent Force members, 14,631 Citizen Force members and 122,000 Commandos of which only 39,000 were considered suited for field deployment. The Defence Act also prohibited the deployment of its members beyond the confines of southern Africa. On 4 September, General Hertzog resigned and was replaced by General Smuts  –  and two days later, on 6 September South Africa declared war against Germany.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war
The “phoney war” luckily granted more time and by 22 September a policy paper had been submitted calling for the formation of two "Forces" and was approved in mid October, laying the foundations for the formation of 1 and 2 SA Divisions. In March 1941, fearing the Italian commitment to war, General Wavell requested the services of a South African Brigade Group in Kenya via the Imperial General Staff. Prime Minister Smuts consented.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war
Initially, to circumvent the limitations of the South African Defence Act (Act No 13 of 1912), only volunteers were recruited and they were subject to an oath on induction whereby they consented to being deployed anywhere in Africa, this being a pre-requisite for acceptance into the Union forces. Men who attested under these terms were entitled to wear the distinct insignia of the Mobile Field Force, a red / orange shoulder strap which was to become known as the "Red Tab". The Defence Act was later amended.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war, Advance party to East Africa
The formation of the 1st South Africa Infantry Brigade Group was approved on 13 May 1940. Although approved, South Africa was desperately short of equipment and had few armoured vehicles save for a limited number of locally designed prototype armoured cars. Due to this limited infantry and armour offensive capacity, all that could initially be mobilised was an anti-aircraft detachment. Thus, part of the 1st SA Anti-


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war, Advance party to East Africa
Aircraft brigade, who arrived in Mombasa on 1 June 1940 as an advance party to protect Mombasa harbour from feared Italian air attacks, becoming the first South African land forces to be deployed outside of South Africa since the First World War. On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war and on the next day South Africa officially declared war on Italy. Two hours after the South African declaration, four Ju 86's of the South African Air Force bombed Italian troops at a Banda Camp close to Moyale, a few kilometres across the Kenya border into Ethiopia.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war, 1st Brigade Group Mobilised
In order to rapidly provide forces to East Africa, as well as due to the lack of trained manpower  –  it was decided to initially form a single Infantry Brigade from the 1st Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles, the 1st Royal Natal Carabineers and the 1st Transvaal Scottish with brigade artillery and support elements (Refer ORBAT below). On 13 July, the 1st South African Brigade Group under command of Colonel John Daniel was issued its movement order and it assembled at Zonderwater for the farewell parade, with General Smuts taking the salute  –  ironically, that Sunday being celebrated as "Delville Wood Day".


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war, 1st Brigade Group Mobilised
... From personal experience I know what awaits you. I know what war means – seven years of my life have been spent in wars. They were amongst the hardest years of my life, but they were also full of the richest experiences that life can give. I would not exchange my war experiences of the Anglo-Boer War and the last Great War for all the gold on the Rand. You are going to face danger, hardship and sacrifice  –  perhaps death itself  –  in all its fierce forms. But through it all, you will gather that experience of life and enrichment of character which are more valuable than gold or precious stones.Gen. Jan Smuts. Farewell parade, Zonderwater, 13 July 1940.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war, 1st Brigade Group Mobilised
Embarkation commenced in Durban the next day, with Brigade HQ, 1st Transvaal Scottish and attached troops boarding the MS Dilwara while the Royal Natal Carbineers and a number of voluntary aid nurses boarded the Devonshire. The Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles followed in the Rajula. The convoy cast off on 17 July 1940.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Outbreak of war, Establishment
On 13 August 1940 the 1st South African Infantry Division was officially constituted  –  consisting of the 1st SA Brigade Group already in Kenya and the 2nd and 5th South African Infantry Brigade Groups. Brig-Gen George Brink was appointed as commander with Lt. Col W.H.E. Poole as GSO 1. The Division HQ landed at Mombasa on 11 November 1940.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign
This account only reflects the role of the 1st SA Infantry Division. For an account of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade in East Africa, see 1st Infantry Brigade (South Africa).


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Dominating the Dida Galgalla (Desert of the Night)
After the success of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade against the Italians at the El Wak border post on 16 December 1940, Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham was intent on opening access into the Galla-Sidamo area across the Chalbi Desert by advancing eastwards from the eastern side of Lake Rudolf and to support a possible rebellion by the Shifta tribe against the Italians. This was the first offensive to be assigned to 1 SA Division.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Dominating the Dida Galgalla (Desert of the Night)
The division then consisted of the 2nd and 5th SA Brigades (located at Marsabit), the 25th East African Brigade (at Lokitaung) as well as six companies of the 2nd Abyssinian Irregulars. Almost on a daily basis, division infantry and armoured cars crossed the Dida Galgalla in search of enemy patrols. The Italians maintained a well established outpost at Turbi Hills, from which they had clear observation of any vehicle or troop movements in the Dida Galgalla. From December 1940 to February 1941 patrols had never been able to engage Italian patrols or elements  –  as they withdrew deeper into Abyssinia on sighting the South African patrols entering the Dida Galgalla, only to return the next day.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, El Yibo
Before advancing into southern Abyssinia, General Brink was compelled to protect his western flank and to deny water sources to the Italians. For this reason, on 16 January the 1st Natal Mounted Rifles (of the 2nd Brigade), No 2 Armoured Car Company, 12 SA Field Battery and two irregular companies attacked the string of wells at El Yibo and El Sardu in the Kenyan Northern Frontier District.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, El Yibo
After three days of fighting, supported by the SAAF, the enemy withdrew from El Yibo on the night of 17 January and on the afternoon of 18 January, the 2nd Field Force Battalion, which had been moved up from the brigade reserve, entered an abandoned El Sardu. With the only water sources in the area in the hands of the South Africans, the advance into Abyssinia could commence.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Gorai and Hobok
2nd and 5th Brigades crossed the Abyssinian border north of Dukana late afternoon on 31 January 1941, moving in parallel columns to assault the Italian positions in the Mega-Moyale complex. The Italians had well established and entrenched advance positions at Goai Crater, El Gumu and Hobok  –  which were to be taken before the main forces at Mega-Moyale could be attacked. 2nd Brigade was assigned to attack Gorai on the right, while 5th Brigade was to assault El Gumu. The attack commenced early morning on 1 February and by 1600 both objectives had been secured.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Gorai and Hobok
The armoured cars however failed to cut off the remnant Italian forces, and they retreated back towards Mega and Moyale. The next day, 3rd Transvaal Scottish and the armoured cars attacked Fort Hobok, sited on a ridge 30 km west of El Gumu supported by artillery. The armoured cars again covered the flanks and tried to cut off any retreating forces. By afternoon, the fort had been captured. The 2nd Brigade now held Gorai and the 5th Brigade, Hobok (Map 1: Point 1). It was again hoped that these raids would ignite the Shifta uprising, but as with the previous occasion, this never materialised.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Battle for Mega
Having two salients extending into Ethiopia, Cunningham and Brink decided to consolidate and to secure their lines of supply in face of the oncoming rainy season which would make the Chalbi desert impassable. The key to supply in the area were the towns of Mega and Moyale, overlooking the two major roads into Abyssinia from Kenya. These were to be taken in a two brigade assault, by first attacking Mega (Map 1: Point 2) and then Moyale (Map 1: Point 3).


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Battle for Mega
The Italians inadvertently opened the offensive when one of their supply columns from Yavello drove into a 2nd Brigade detachment deployed to control the Yavello-Mega road. Poor defensive arrangements by the South Africans allowed the Italians and Banda (irregulars) to drive into the centre of the detachment. After much reactive manoeuvre and intervention by the armoured car company, the Italian supply column and supporting troops were destroyed.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Battle for Mega
The South African positions now known to the Italians, they were attacked by a detachment of Italian light tanks on 16 February, which caused the armoured cars to flee westwards and allowed the tanks to descend on the unprotected infantry. After a brisk but fierce fire-fight, the Italian tanks returned to Mega, leaving the South African detachment dispersed and disorganised.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Battle for Mega
This attack had compromised surprise – and the attack on Mega was now commenced in all urgency. The 1st SA Irish (Col. Dobbs) were tasked to take the ridges east of Mega fort while the 3rd Transvaal Scottish (Lt-Col. Walter Kirby) were to occupy the a series of hills west of the fort and were to advance in line with the SA Irish. 2nd Brigade was to launch a direct attack on the fort and the Mega defensive complex.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Battle for Mega
Despite incoming artillery fire, the Irish and Scottish regiments advances progressed well – but there was no sign of the 2nd Brigade who had not yet crossed the start-line, threatening to undermine the planned attack. At noon, a torrential rainstorm erupted and a thick mist enveloped the heights around Mega and it became obvious that the fort would not be taken by nightfall. The next morning, cloud and mist prevented air support  –  and the Irish and Scottish battalions restarted their advance.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Battle for Mega
It was only after the third day that the 2nd Brigade managed to reach their designated start-line due to poor navigation and the failure to identify serious terrain obstacles on their line of advance during reconnaissance. Clear skies on the third day permitted a coordinated attack with air support, artillery and the two brigades attacking together  –  leading to an Italian surrender late that afternoon (18 February).


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Battle for Mega
Mega fell with 1,000 Italian and African soldiers being captured on 22 February, and later that day one of the irregular companies attached to 2nd Brigade entered Moyale unopposed. The Italians had fled, leaving large quantities of logistical stores. The division had attained its objective and had secured the access roads into southern Abyssinia before the onset of the seasonal rains.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Operations west of Lake Rudolf
West of Lake Rudolf, the 25th East African Brigade (Brig. W. Owen) marched on Namaraputh with the objective of taking the town of Kalam (Map 1: Point 4). Opposition from Merille tribesman in the area was so fierce, that the Brigade was compelled to cease its advance and to go over to the defensive. Any advance west of the lake would first require wide area operations to subdue these irregular forces.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, 2nd and 5th Brigades, Operations west of Lake Rudolf
By the time Moyale fell, allied forces had captured Mogadishu to the east and this success encouraged General Wavell to advise Cunningham that the South African division should be readied to deploy to Egypt at short notice. Cunningham thus replaced 2nd and 5th Brigades with the 21st East African Brigade and withdrew them back into Kenya.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), East African Campaign, Transfer to Egypt
The Division HQ, Division troops and 5 SA Infantry Brigade arrived in Suez, after an eleven-day voyage from Mombassa on 3 May 1941. The 2nd Brigade arrived in Suez on 8 June from Berbera and was forthwith assigned to 2 SA Infantry Division. The 1st Brigade sailed from Massawa on 12 June 1941 to Egypt. At the peak of operations in 1940, there were 77,000 troops in Kenya of which 27,000 were South African.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Situation
During the time the division had spent in East Africa, the Desert War had progressed and by the time of their arrival in Egypt:


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Discontented South Africans
Deployed at Matruh and responsible for constructing defensive positions, the division was still not considered ready for operations by the end of June  –  having 90% of its allotted transport (many vehicles being those which had been used in the East Africa campaign) and 90% of its arms and equipment. Severe administrative problems, as well as organizational issues related to integration of the division into the Western Desert Force, caused discontent and eventually lead Gen. Brink to raise the issues with Field-Marshal Smuts and the Chief of SA General Staff when they visited Cairo in early July.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Discontented South Africans
Discussions indicated that Lt-Gen. Sir Alan Cunningham and Wavell were of the opinion that South Africa could not field two divisions for lack of resources. Smuts claimed that the manpower shortages were due to troops being retained for protection duties in East Africa and that a lack of shipping precluded the arrival of a further 3,000 men and he rejected the idea of reducing the South African forces into divisions of two brigade strength, as was recommended by Wavell. In addition, Brink continued to express his displeasure at the fact that the 1st Division was being utilised to construct defensive positions, instead of training in order to prepare for operations.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Discontented South Africans
Differences between British and South African administration were becoming more pronounced (and so too were differences between the South Africans and other Commonwealth troops.) The insistence by the Australian government to retain the Australians in the theatre (at Tobruk at that stage) as a unified corps, caused manpower shortages in other areas in the Western Desert. Brink feared that the division would be split up and deployed piece-meal to fill these gaps, as had happened in East Africa. His insistence in this regard to Auchinleck further widened the gap between the South Africans and the Army commander.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Discontented South Africans
At the end of October, Brink advised XXX Corps that 1st Division would not be ready to participate in the preparatory exercise as a prelude to Crusader  –  and that he required an additional 21 days for training. After consideration by Cunningham and Auchinleck, the division was permitted three days for training and was required to be available for the commencement of Crusader on 18 November, subject to Brink confirming that the division was ready for operations.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Discontented South Africans
Brink was faced with the dilemma of either committing untrained troops to battle, or holding back the division and having them replaced by the Indian Division  –  which would invariably relegate the division to defensive duties and a significant loss of prestige to the South Africans. He declared the division "ready" and 1 SA Division was deployed for Operation Crusader.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941
This account only reflects the role of the 1st SA Infantry Division.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Operational plan
Following the costly failure of Operation Battleaxe, General Archibald Wavell was relieved as Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command and replaced by General Claude Auchinleck. The Western Desert Force was reorganised and renamed the Eighth Army under the command of Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham and at this stage, the division comprised only two brigades. The plan for Operation Crusader (See Map 2) was to engage the Afrika Korps with the 7th Armoured Division while the 1st SA Division and the 22 Guards Brigade covered their left flank.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Operational plan
Meanwhile, on their right, XIII Corps, supported by 4th Armoured Brigade (detached from 7th Armoured Division), would make a clockwise flanking advance west of Sidi Omar and hold position threatening the rear of the line of Axis defensive strongpoints which ran east from Sidi Omar to the coast at Halfaya. Central to the plan was the destruction of the Axis armour by 7th Armoured Division to allow the relatively lightly armoured XIII Corps to advance north to Bardia along the coast while XXX Corps continued northwest to Tobruk and link up with a planned break-out by the 70th Division.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Advance
The division advance commenced at 0600 on 18 November with uneventful progress through the empty desert, save for two air attacks by Italian aircraft (Point 1 on Map 3). Having steadily advanced northwards, 1 SA Division was advised on 20 November to "mask" Bir el Gubi and to prevent interference from the Ariete Div into the flank of 7 Armoured Div (Point 2 on Map 3).


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Advance
El Gubi had now become a lesser objective after the capture of Sidi Rezeg and early morning on 21 November, the 21st and 15th Panzer had withdrawn to the north-west, not aware of the Allied advance to their south – creating the impression within the division, that the Axis forces had already been defeated.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Advance
By noon, 22 November, the Sidi Rezeg area was clear of Axis formations but by mid afternoon, German armour launched a violent attack on the area of the airfield. In this attack, 4th Armoured Brigade HQ had been destroyed (captured) and by nightfall, the SA 5th Brigade as well as the 6th New Zealand Brigade had been tasked to hurry in support of 7 Armoured Div at Sidi Rezeg (Advance 3 on Map 3), with the 5th SA Bde tasked to occupy Point 178, three miles south of Sidi Rezeg. 1st SA Bde was to disengage from the Ariete at Bir el Gubi and to advance in a night march, north  –  in support of the 5th Brigade at Sidi Regez, being relieved by the 22nd Guards Brigade.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Totensonntag
By the 23rd, 5th Brigade had joined up with 7 Armoured Div, deploying straight from its advance into the centre of the armoured division area of deployment to the south of the airfield. The 1st SA Brigade was expected later the morning, from its night march from El Gubi. Unbeknownst to the division  –  Rommel's plan was to attack 7 Armoured Division in a frontal assault with the Afrikakorps and to launch an attack into the rear of 7th Armoured Division with the armoured Ariette Division. The 5th SA Brigade was caught in the middle of this armoured attack.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Totensonntag
By late morning, the 15th Panzer had launched their attack with 150 tanks aimed to link up with the Ariette Division and panzers were cutting through the rear of 7th Armoured Division into the support B Echelons. 5th SA Brigade had most of their transport and supplies destroyed in this action, but did destroy a number of German tanks. After destroying significant logistical elements  –  the 15th Panzer withdrew so as to by-pass the 7 Armoured Division / 5th SA Brigade positions and to engineer a link-up with the Ariette Division. They achieved this by 1235 and Gen Crüwell prepared for a decisive attack on the Allied armour. Advance elements of the 1st SA Brigade had now met elements of 5 Brigade, but the brigades never physically linked up.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Totensonntag
By 1315 a major tank battle was underway between Axis forces and 7 Armoured Division. At 1555  –  1st SA Division were passing a signal to 5 SA Brigade when the brigade interjected "wait....." Those were the last words received from the 5th SA Infantry Brigade. Some units retained some form of unity and managed to escape east through the New Zealand and Indian fronts. Against the German tanks, the South African infantry had no real means of defence with limited Anti-Tank capabilities, they were compelled to use 25-pounders in a direct fire role.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Totensonntag
By the time the panzers had broken into the rear of the brigade, the artillery had been subdued and all anti-tank capabilities had been destroyed. By nightfall, all that remained of 5 SA Brigade was "...little groups of disconsolate prisoners.....between frequent flares and the light of burning ammunition." "The 5th SA Brigade had been caught by an overwhelming force in the open desert, quite unprepared and without inflicting any negligible damage on its opponents."


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Totensonntag
The battle had resulted in a victory for the Afrikakorps, but the 7th Armoured and 1st South African Divisions had not been annihilated and the loss of the 5th SA Brigade was not enough to set off the loss of almost 50% of the Afrikakorps tanks which went into battle. At 0100 on 24 November, Brink reported to XXX Corps that 5th SA Brigade had "ceased to exist as a fighting formation".


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Totensonntag
...the attack started well, but soon came up against a wide artillery and anti-tank gun screen, which the South Africans had formed at a surprising speed between Haiad and Muftah. Guns of all kind and sizes laid a curtain of fire in front of the attacking tanks and there seemed almost no hope of making any progress in the face of this fire-spewing barrier. Tank after tank split open in a hail of shells. Our entire artillery had to be thrown in to silence the enemy guns one by one.Gen. Erwin Rommel. Commenting on the defence of the 5th SA Brigade


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Aftermath
Having failed to link up with 5 SA Brigade, 1st Brigade withdrew south to Bir Taieb el Esem and commenced to establish a strong-point to effect its own defence. Between 24 and 26 November, elements of the 1st SA Brigade were deployed north east in attempts to support the New Zealand Division in their assault on Tobruk. Attempts to join up with the New Zealanders were repeatedly blocked (at one stage Gen Norrie himself lead a combat group from the SA Brigade) by Axis actions. On the 24th, 1st SA Brigade was attacked by the Ariete Armoured Division at Taib el Esem and were able to extricate themselves only after assistance from Gatehouse and the 4th Armoured Brigade.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Aftermath
The same day, Rommel committed himself to a "dash for the wire"  –  with the intention of exploiting the disorganisation and confusion in the enemy's bases and cutting their supply lines. The Germans attacked towards Egypt to relieve his garrisons at Bardia and Sollum. The advance came on a route that took the Afrikakorps in succession through the headquarters of XXX Corps, 7th Armoured Division, 1st SA Division, 7th Support Group and 7th Armoured Brigade.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Aftermath
By 1145 General Norrie stated that the "Matruh Stakes" had officially started  –  as 8th Army A and B Echelons hurriedly withdrew east (Point 5 Map 3). However, fighting continued at El Duda north west of Sidi Regez, with the South Africans being involved in fierce battles in Die Kessel of Sidi Regez on 29 and 30 November. But the pressure was too great and an eastward withdrawal was inevitable. Finally, the Afrikakorps stalled as it outran its supplies and met stiffening resistance. By early December, Rommel had withdrawn to a line of defences east of Tobruk at Gazala, and the division occupied defensive positions at Mersa Matruh.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Aftermath
After the Sidi Regez battles, the division brigades were deployed in various offensive and defensive roles from Mersa Matruh, of which the following are noteworthy:


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Preparing defences at Gazala and change of command
By New Year, the 5th Brigade was re-forming at Mersa Matruh and the 2nd Brigade was earmarked for deployment to Tobruk and the 1st Brigade was to be deployed on operations outside of the division structure. The question re-arose, as to whether South Africa was capable of maintaining the division in the field. By 8 January 1942, the division was 5,570 men under-strength of the approved establishment of 23,187. On 25 January the 1st Brigade was deployed to Tobruk, tasked to fight a delaying action with the 38th Indian Infantry Brigade against the Axis who had by now started a new advance from Msus.


1st Infantry Division (South Africa), Western Desert, Sidi Rezeg: November 1941, Preparing defences at Gazala and change of command
Although it had been agreed that Tobruk would no longer be "held at all costs" in the event of an Axis attack, it formed a critical forward base to protect the Gazala Line from air, land or sea attack. Auchinleck recommended to Ritchie that the forthcoming battle was to be fought west of Tobruk, and not on the frontier. For this reason, 2nd Brigade was also moved forward to support the 1st.