3rd South African Infantry Regiment

The 3rd South African Infantry Regiment (3 SAI) was an infantry regiment of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

Formation
The infantry regiments were raised with men from the four provinces of the Union: the 3rd Regiment troops were from the Transvaal and the then Rhodesia. Many volunteers for the B Company originated from the Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment while C Company were men from the Rand Light Infantry. Most of the recruits already had military training or experience. They were, in general, middle class, well-educated and well-bred men.

It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel E.F. Thackeray.

The regiment was led by serving officers of the Union Defence Force, while the whole of 1st South African Brigade part of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force coming under the command of Brigadier-General Henry Lukin DSO, a previous Inspector General of the UDF. The Brigade was attached to the 9th (Scottish) Division.

Engagements
The Regiment was deployed to France where it capture the village of Longueval and was deployed in the adjacent Delville Wood on the 15th July 1916. The regiment then served with the Brigade at Arras during April 1917 and was part of the offensive at Ypres and Passchendale in September 1917. It was disbanded on 18 February 1918 due to a shortage of recruits.