5th Infantry Brigade (South Africa)

The 5th 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 1st Infantry Division and was formed on 13 August 1940. It served in East Africa and the Western Desert and was disbanded on 1 January 1943.

East Africa
Officer Commanding: Brigadier Bertram Frank Armstrong
 * 1st South African Irish Regiment
 * 2nd Regiment Botha
 * 3rd Transvaal Scottish Regiment
 * No. 1 S.A. Armoured Car Company
 * 5th Field Company, SA Corps of Engineers
 * 11th Field Ambulance, SA Medical Corps
 * No. 3 Mobile General Workshops, SA Technical Services Corps
 * 1 Brigade Signals Company, SA Corps of Signals

frameless

Western Desert
The Brigade was almost totally destroyed by the German 15th

Panzer and Italian Ariete Divisions at Sidi Regez on 23 November 1941. Although partially re-staffed and re-equipped, the Brigade never served operationally after this defeat