Western Province Command


Western Province Command was a command of the South African Army.

History

Origin

Union Defence Force

Under the Union Defence Force, South Africa was originally divided into 9 military districts. By the 1930s this area became Cape Command. Cape Command,, the Coast Artillery Brigade, and a battery of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment.
Western Province Command itself appears to have formed in 1959. Brig Magnus Malan, later Chief of the SADF, took command in 1971.

SADF

From 1 August 1974, units transferred from Western Province Command to the new 71 Motorised Brigade included the Cape Field Artillery, the Cape Town Highlanders, Regiment Westelike Provinsie, Regiment Boland, Regiment Oranjerivier, a South African Engineer Corps field squadron, 74 Signal Squadron SACS, 4 Maintenance Unit, 30 Field Workshop SAOSC, and 3 Field Ambulance. 12 Supply and Transport Company, originally established on 22 August 1961, became 4 Maintenance Unit on 1 September 1971.
By the early 1980s Western Province Command included the Cape Garrison Artillery, 101 Signal Squadron, 6 Base Ordnance Depot, Command Workshops the South African Cape Corps Battalion, 2 Military Hospital, 3 Field Ambulance, and three Commandos and 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment SAA and 4 Electronics Workshops.

Disbandment

This Command was disbanded after the South African Defence Review 1998.

Groups and Commando units

Group 1 (Youngsfield)