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| 1st SA Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
 1st SA Infantry Regiment | |
| Active | 1914-1918 |
| Allegiance |
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| Branch | |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | |
| Battle honours | |
1st SA Infantry Regiment was aninfantryregiment of theSouth African Army, duringWorld War I.
The infantry regiments were raised with men from the four provinces of the Union: the 1st Regiment troops were from the Cape. Also known as "The Cape Regiment." A Company (Western Province) was made up from men mostly from the Duke of Edinburgh's Rifles. B. Company was recruited from the Eastern Province and C Company was from Kimberley, with many of the men being ex Kimberley Regiment. D Company was recruited from Cape Town. Most of the recruits already had military training or experience. They were, in general, middle class, well-educated and well-bred men.
The regiment was led by serving officers of the Union Defence Force, while the whole of 1st South African Infantry Brigade came under the command ofBrigadier-General Henry Lukin DSO, a previous Inspector General of the UDF and part of theSouth African Overseas Expeditionary ForceThe Brigade was attached to the9th (Scottish) Division.
The Regiment was deployed to France where it captured the village ofLongueval and was deployed in the adjacentDelville Wood on 15 July 1916. The regiment then served with the Brigade atArras during April 1917 and was part of the offensive atYpres andPasschendale in September 1917, atMarrieres Wood in March 1918, atMessines in April 1918 and finally atLe Cateau in October 1918.
Private W. Faulds of 1 SA Infantry won his VC at Delville Wood.[1]
The 1st South African Infantry Regiment was commanded by Lt Col F.S. Dawson.
