Essential Services Protection Corps
| Essential Services Protection Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1939 – 1950 |
| Disbanded | October 1950 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Allegiance |  South Africa |
| Size | 8,468 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Brigadier C.H. Blaine |
Essential Services Protection Corps was a
Background
The unit was formed on 29 October 1939 under the command of Brigadier C.H. Blaine and initially consisted of the Cape Town, Durban, East London, and Port Elizabeth companies.[1][2] By December of the same year, two further companies were added.[1]
The men enlisted were 45 years or older and consisted of ex-servicemen.[1][3][4] They were to guard essential infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, airports, waterworks, and power stations.[1][3] It started with a complement of fifty-six officers, 2,400 ranks and three hundred non-white personnel and this rose to 8,468 men of all races.[1][5][6] It was merged into the Auxiliary Services in October 1950.[1] The unit recorded 275 war dead.[7]
Formation
It consisted of two regiments. Lt-Col. J. Spence commanded the 1st Regiment. It consisted of an Inland Company, Cape Town Company, Durban Company, East London Company, and Port Elizabeth Company.[1]
The 2nd Regiment was commanded by Colonel P. Imker Hoogenhout and consisted of the Roads Company under Lt-Col. B. Gould.[1]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-625-00320-4.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link - ISSN 0968-3445.
- ^ ISSN 0018-229X.
- ISSN 0018-246X.
- ^ "SA Forces in the Second World War". Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies. 19 (3): 22–48. 1989.
- ^ Fokkens, AM. "Afrikaner unrest within South Africa during the Second World War and the measures taken to suppress it" (PDF). University of the Free State. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ CWGC. "Search Results". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-03-06.