Jan Smuts and the Old Boers Jan Smuts and the Old Boers Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM (24 May 1870 – 11 September 1950) was a prominent South African and Commonwealth statesman and military leader. He served as a Boer General during the Boer War, a British General during the First World War and was appointed Field Marshal during the Second World War. In addition to various Cabinet appointments, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and from 1939 to 1948. He played a leading part in the post war settlements at the end of both world wars, making
4th Infantry Brigade (South Africa) 4th Infantry Brigade (South Africa) The 4th South African Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The Brigade formed part of the South African 2nd Infantry Division. The brigade served in the Western Desert Campaign until it was captured by German and Italian forces at Tobruk on 21 June 1942. It appears to have been formed within the Orange Free State Command, as it was within the command boundaries on 3 September 1939. On that day it comprised Regiment President Steyn, Regiment Louw Wepener, Regiment De Wet, and