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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Mimble on Wednesday 11 May 22 15:34 BST (UK)

Title: South African Tanks Corps East Africa World War II
Post by: Mimble on Wednesday 11 May 22 15:34 BST (UK)

My dad, Eric Campbell Morgan, was in a tanks corps in the South African army in World War II. He fought in East Africa, Abyssinia and Ethiopia. Where can I find out more details about his service please?

Title: Re: South African Tanks Corps East Africa World War II
Post by: izabel on Thursday 26 May 22 20:48 BST (UK)

You can request his records from Military Archives in Pretoria - archive@dod.mil.za

  They will need his full names and date of birth and if you have it his force number. 

Title: Re: South African Tanks Corps East Africa World War II
Post by: Mimble on Thursday 26 May 22 21:33 BST (UK)

Thanks Izabel!

Title: Re: South African Tanks Corps East Africa World War II
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 27 May 22 10:37 BST (UK)

This may be of interest: http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol103ce.html

The Vickers light tanks were very small: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Tank_Mk_VI

Title: Re: South African Tanks Corps East Africa World War II
Post by: Mimble on Friday 27 May 22 15:32 BST (UK)

Thanks Shaun. Not sure what my dad drove but here is a picture.

Title: Re: South African Tanks Corps East Africa World War II
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 27 May 22 17:22 BST (UK)

Great photo! That I believe to be an A9 cruiser tank

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/A9_Cruiser_MkI.php

Title: Re: South African Tanks Corps East Africa World War II
Post by: Mimble on Friday 27 May 22 21:23 BST (UK)

I think the website you quoted above is relevant because my dad embarked on the same date for Mombasa according to his service record, probably with the same Unit. I've always wondered about the East Africa campaign because he didn't talk about his army days at all.

Title: Re: South African Tanks Corps East Africa World War II
Post by: Mimble on Friday 30 December 22 16:14 GMT (UK)

I have now scanned in all his old wartime photos of tanks and people that he served with (only a few names unfortunately) so if anyone wants to see the pics please let me know. He was in the South African No 1 Light Tank Co (M.T.) in 1941 and served in Mombasa from July 1940 until Aug 1941 with 3MT Coy 1LTC(MT) and in Suez from 1941 until August 1945. In 1942 it was known as Tank Squadron 8th Regt. When he was demobbed his unit was known as SAAC Corps Unit Ac ACTC (v). (Very confusing but this is what I got from his service record.)