South African Army corps and branches

The South African Army is divided into functional branches, known as corps. Most consist of units, but some, such as the SA Staff Corps, consist only of personnel who are assigned to headquarters and units. The following is a list of corps established since 1912; those which still exist are shown in bold.

The SA Defence Act Amendment Act, No. 22 of 1922 re-organised the Permanent Force. From 1 February 1923 the Permanent Force consisted of the SA Staff Corps, SA Instructional Corps, SA Naval Service, SA Field Artillery, 1st Regiment, SAM.R., the SA Permanent Garrison Artillery, the South African Engineer Corps, the South African Air Force, SA Service Corps, SA Medical Corps, SA Ordnance Corps, SA Veterinary Corps and the SA Administrative, Pay and Clerical Corps.^[1][2]

Staff

Staff

• Permanent Force Staff (1912–23)
• SA Staff Corps (formed 1923)
• SA Instructional Corps (1923–54) - incorporated into SA Infantry Corps

Combat Services

Artillery

• Field Artillery Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–34) - incorporated into SAA
• SA Field Artillery (1915–19)
• SA Heavy Artillery (1915–19)
• SA Field Artillery (1923–34) - incorporated into SA Artillery
• SA Permanent Garrison Artillery (1921–34) - incorporated into SAA
• SA Garrison Artillery (1913–34) - incorporated into SAA
• South African Artillery (SAA) (formed 1934)
• SA Anti-Aircraft (formed 1984)

Mounted Rifles

• SA Mounted Riflemen (1913–26)
• Mounted Rifles Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–35) - incorporated into infantry

Dismounted Rifles

• Dismounted Rifles Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–29)

Infantry

• Infantry Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–43) - incorporated into SA Armoured Corps
• SA Infantry Corps (born 1954)

Armour

• SA Tank Corps (1940–43)
• South African Armoured Corps (formed 1943) - included infantry until 1954

Combat Support

Engineers

• SA Engineer Corps (1914–16)
• South African Engineer Corps (formed 1923)^[3]

Signals

• Communication Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–23)
• SA Field Post and Telegraph Corps (1914–19)
• South African Corps of Signals (formed 1923)^[4]

• SA Military Pigeon Service (1939-?45)

Supporting Services

Administration and Logistics

• SA Service Corps (1913–39) - incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps^[5]
• SA Ordnance Corps (1923–39) - incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps^[5]
• SA Corps of Mechanics (1939-39) - incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps
• 'Q' Services Corps (1939–49) - later Administrative Services Corps^[6]
• Administrative Services Corps (1949–1975)^[6]
• Army Postal Service (1940–45)
• Personnel Services Corps (formed 1975)
• Ordnance Services Corps (formed 1975)

• Technical Services Corps (formed 1939)
• SA Caterers Corps (formed 1969)
• SA Ammunition Corps (formed 1973)
• Corps of Professional Officers (formed 1975)

Medical

• SA Medical Corps (1913–70) - incorporated into SA Medical Service
• SA Veterinary Corps (1913–46) - incorporated into SAMC
• SA Military Nursing Service (1914–70)
• SA Military Nursing Corps (1970–72) - incorporated into SAMS

Financial

• SA Administrative, Pay & Clerical Corps (1923–39) - incorporated into QSC
• SA Pay Corps (1940–45)
• Finance Services Corps (1972–75)
• Finance Services Corps (formed 1979)

Military Police

• SA Corps of Military Police (formed 1938)

Intelligence

• SA Intelligence Corps (1940–45)
• SA Army Intelligence Corps (formed 1977)

Chaplains

• SA Corps of Chaplains (1946–68) - incorporated into SA Chaplains Service

Science

• SA Corps of Scientists (1947–72)

Women's Services

• Women's Auxiliary Army Service (1940–47)
• Women's Auxiliary Military Police Corps (1942–46)
• Women's Defence Corps (1947–71)
• Civil Defence Corps (1971–77)
• SA Army Women's Corps (1977–98)

Special Services

• Special Service Corps (born 1964)

Music

• SA Corps of Bandsmen (born 1969)

"Non-European" Services

• South African Native Labour Corps (1915–19)
• Cape Corps (1940–50)
• Indian Service Corps (1940–42)
• Native Military Corps (1940–50)
• SA Cape Corps (1963-90s)
• SA Supporting Services Corps (1974-90s)
• SA Indian Corps (1975-90s)

Commandos

• Defence Rifle Associations (1913–49)
• Rifle Commandos (1949–58)
• Commandos ('South African Commando System') (1958–2007)

References

1. Lillie, A.C. (1982). "THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY". South African Journal of Military Studies 12 (2).
2. Orpen, Neil. "Appendix 1:THE UNION DEFENCE FORCE BEFORE 1933". HyperWar. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
3. van der Waag, Ian (December 2012). "The origin and establishment of the South African Engineer Corps (SAEC), 1918-1939". Journal for Contemporary History : Military History 1912 - 2012 37 (2): 1–31.
4. See also Volker, W. 2010. Signal Units of the South African Corps of Signals and Related Signal Services. Pretoria: Veritas Books. ISBN 978-0-620-45345-5.
5. "South African Ordnance Corps". Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa 1. Human Sciences Research Council. 1977. p. 23. ISBN 0-624-00849-5.
6. "Administrative Service Corps". Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa 1. Human Sciences Research Council. 1977. p. 23. ISBN 0-624-00849-5.