South African Army corps and branches explained

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.

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,
• SA Permanent Garrison Artillery,
• South African Engineer Corps,
• South African Air Force,
• SA Service Corps,
• SA Medical Corps,
• SA Ordnance Corps,
• SA Veterinary Corps
• SA Administrative, Pay and Clerical Corps.^{[1] [2]}

Currently active corps

Staff

• SA Staff Corps (SAStC) (formed 1923)

Artillery

• South African Artillery (SAA) (formed 1934)
• SA Anti-Aircraft (formed 1984)

Infantry

• SA Infantry Corps (established 1954)

Armour

• South African Armoured Corps (formed 1943) – included infantry until 1954

Engineers

• South African Engineer Corps (formed 1923)

Signals

• South African Corps of Signals (formed 1923)
• South African Army Signal Formation

Administration and Logistics

• 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
• Finance Services Corps (formed 1979)

Military Police

• SA Corps of Military Police (formed 1938)

Intelligence

• SA Army Intelligence Corps (formed 1977)

Staff

Staff

• Permanent Force Staff (1912–23)
• SA Staff Corps (SAStC) (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 Rifles (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 (established 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]
• South African Army Signal Formation

• SA Military Pigeon Service (1945)

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 (established 1964)

Music

• SA Corps of Bandsmen (established 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

See main article: South African Commando System.

• Defence Rifle Associations (1913–49)
• Rifle Commandos (1949–58)
• Commandos (1958–2007)

See also

• List of Helmet and Shoulder Flashes and Hackles of South African Military Units
• List of badges of the South African Army

Notes and References

1. THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY . Lillie, A.C. . South African Journal of Military Studies. 1982. 12. 2.
2. Book: Appendix 1:THE UNION DEFENCE FORCE BEFORE 1933 . HyperWar . Orpen. Neil D.. 19 October 2022.
3. The origin and establishment of the South African Engineer Corps (SAEC), 1918-1939 . van der Waag. Ian . Journal for Contemporary History: Military History 1912-2012 . December 2012 . 37 . 2 . 1–31. 19 October 2022.
4. Book: Volker. Walter. 2010. Signal Units of the South African Corps of Signals and Related Signal Services. Pretoria. Veritas Books. 978-0-620-45345-5. .
5. Encyclopedia: South African Ordnance Corps . Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa . 1 . 23 . Human Sciences Research Council . 1977 . 0-624-00849-5 .
6. Encyclopedia: Administrative Service Corps . Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa . 1 . 23 . Human Sciences Research Council . 1977 . 0-624-00849-5 .