7th South African Recce

Discussion in 'South African' started by Zimrich, Feb 11, 2007.

  1. Zimrich

    Zimrich Junior Member

    Was trying to find out some details about the service of 214168 (Cpl.) S.B. O'Reilly. He served in the South African Tank Corps, 22nd Armoured Car Company in 1940 and then the 7th Recce in the Middle East till 1943 where he was Court Martialed "for contra. sect. 40 of O.C."
    Can anyone give details of the 7th Recce in particular and what the offence sec 40 was as I can't find any details anywhere

    Thanks for any help
     
  2. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    Section 40 of the King's Regulations was "conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline" - basically anything and everything that wasn't covered by the other offences;)
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    About all I can find is that they part of 2nd SA Div.
    7th South African Reconnaissance Battalion
    2nd Infantry Division (South Africa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)


    The 7th SA ACR (Recce) had been lost at Tobruk


    April 1943, the four South African Armoured Car Regiments and Recce Battalions that had served in East Africa and the Western desert ceased to exist. The 7th SA ACR (Recce) had been lost at Tobruk, the 3rd SA ACR was absorbed into the Natal Mounted Rifles, and the 4th/6th SA ACR were absorbed by the Royal Natal Carbineers and the Imperial Light Horse.

    Armour Regiments Page
     
  4. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    RECONNAISSANCE BATTALIONS Two reconnaissance battalions, equipped with armoured cars, formed part of the South African Tank Corps in the Second World War. The 3rd battalion was with 1st S.A. Division, and the 7th with 2nd S.A. Division. Both were formed from armoured car companies at the time of a reorganisation of the S.A. Tank Corps in March 1941. The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion consisted of Nos. 1, 2 and 3 companies and detachments of Nos. 1 and 2 Motor Cycle Companies who were serving in East Africa before moving to the Middle East in June 1941. They fought with distinction under Lt.-Col. G. K. Roodt initially, then under Lts.-Col. J. P. A. Furstenburg, S. B. Gwillam and R. D. Jerkins. At the time of the Battle of El Alamein in Oct.-Nov. 1942 the battalion was re-organised to become the 3rd S.A. Armoured Car Regiment, but on the disbandment of the S.A. Tank Corps in April 1943 it was absorbed by the Natal Mounted Rifles, which became the reconnaissance regiment of the 6th S.A. Armoured Division. The 7th Reconnaissance Battalion arrived in the Middle East from South Africa under the command of Lt.-Col. P. H. Grobbelaar in July 194 1 and served with the Oasis Group as well as with its parent formation, the 2nd S.A. Division. When Grobbelaar be came ill in March 1942, Roodt took command, and he was followed by Lt.-Col. G. N. Nauhaus on 12th June 1942, shortly before the unit fell into enemy hands with the capture of Tobruk, after permission for the battalion to fight its way out had been cancelled.

    From: Ancestry24.co.za

    Covers most SA units
     
  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    <CENTER>South African Reconnaissance Cars</CENTER>British/Commonwealth units that used the Mark II and/or Mark III versions of this vehicle in the Middle East included the King's Dragoon Guards, the Royal Dragoons, the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, the 3rd South African Reconnaissance Battalion, the 4th South African Armoured Car Regiment, the 6th South African Armoured Car Regiment and the 7th South African Reconnaissance Battalion. There may have been others. In addition, the 3rd Indian Cavalry regiment had a small number of these vehicles (not sure if Mark II or Mark III) in Malaya in 1941/1942.


    http://www.geocities.com/spoelstra.geo/m-h/armdcar.html




    22nd Armoured Car Company - Raised 1940 from the Railways and Harbour Brigade.

    http://home.adelphia.net/~dryan67/orders/sa.html
     
  6. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  7. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    PS - thanks Zimrich, whilst looking for info for you, I came across something of great interest to me so :salut:

    Might share it with the forum at some point :D
     
  8. Zimrich

    Zimrich Junior Member

    Kyt, glad I could help in a roundabout sort of way:D and thanks everyone for all the info its been a great help.
    I've been told a few other things whilst waiting for the service papers from SA. O'Reilly was court martialled in 1941 not 1943 as I originally thought and was, 'severely reprimanded'.
    What is interesting though is that on 12/7/1943 his engagement with 7th Recce was terminated, he was returned to the Railway and Harbour Brigade Marine Unit and his medical status had gone from A1 to C1.
    If the 7th Recce were taken POW at Tobruk in 1942 and were shipped to camps in Italy is there a chance that O'Reilly escaped when the Allies invaded in July 43 and the POW camps were in confusion and not guarded?
    I've come across several instances when SA soldiers had escaped in these circumstances, I've even had one medal group where the soldier ended up fighting with the Partisans and was executed by the SS.
     
  9. wartopia

    wartopia Junior Member

    Hi, i was doing some research concerning Corporal in the 7th Armd Recce Bn.

    The South African Military Archives do contain some information concerning the unit as well as personal files of individuals.

    I thought perhaps you would find this historical piece of correspondence of interest as it concerns the question of the status of the unit after it had been captured at Tobruk.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Another small thing, they were issued with Marmon Herrington MK IIIs


    von Poop.
    Are you sure?

    I thought that they were still using the MkII whilst during 1941/2 in North Africa.
    Perhaps the MkIII came later in 1943?
     
  11. rosterq

    rosterq Junior Member

    Hi, i was doing some research concerning Corporal in the 7th Armd Recce Bn.

    The South African Military Archives do contain some information concerning the unit as well as personal files of individuals.

    I thought perhaps you would find this historical piece of correspondence of interest as it concerns the question of the status of the unit after it had been captured at Tobruk.

    Hello Wartopia,

    Thanks for this PDF.AMAZING.

    Thank you
     
  12. Quirke

    Quirke Junior Member

  13. whodun

    whodun New Member

    My Dad L/Cp S R Dexter No 214324 of the 7th Recce Battalion South African Defence Force and captured at Tobruk in June of 1942.He was released in April 1945 and arrived home safely.
    The point of my post is find anyone who had a relative who was in the same position as my Dad and swap views& news. Thanks Michael Dexter
     
  14. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    They definitely had the Mk. III in at least two companies in October 1941.

    If I were to bet I'd say they only had Mk. III.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  15. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

  16. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thank you Andreas
     
  17. whodun

    whodun New Member

    Hi ,
    My Dad L/CpL. 214324 of the 7th Recce Battalion I should have added, he was from the 7th Amoured Car Division.
    Thanks Michael Dexter.
     
  18. spencerkruger

    spencerkruger New Member

    Hi folks,

    My great grandfather was the RSM for 7th Armoured reco battalion, captured at Tobruk, multiple Italian camps before ending up Germany. Survived the war. James Ernest Dawson
    Sadly don't have much more info, his only son inherited his medals etc. and as with families I never met them and cannot trace paperwork or medals.
    Would love it if any one here has any info or anecdotes about him through family accounts.
    PS: Won the Military Medal at Delville Wood, have his medal card from the UK archives but again not much more.

    Regards
     
  19. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is a bit more information on the 7th Reconnaissance Battalion:

    7th Armoured Fighting Vehicle Regiment

    Raised
    March 1941 from 21st, 22nd Armoured Car Companies
    Disbanded
    Captured 20 June 1942 at Tobruk
    Title Changes
    7th Reconnaissance Battalion - April 1941
    Battle Honours
    Halfaya, Agedabia, Bardia 1942, Western Desert 1941-42

    This regiment served as the divisional reconnaissance unit of 2nd South African Infantry Division in the Western Desert. It arrived from the Union in August 1941 and remained in the Middle East until its capture at Tobruk on 20 June 1942. Two companies served under 29th Indian Infantry Brigade at Jalo Oasis in 24 November 1941. It fought at Bardia-Sollum-Halfaya, Gazala and the Fall of Tobruk in 1942. It had 38 Marmon-Herrington armoured cars in three armoured car companies and one motorcycle company.
     
    Aixman likes this.
  20. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thanks David.

    How could I find out more about the motorcycle company?
     

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