The SAAF Forum

* D-Day Landings (ground forces or RAF but specifically ground forces, be they SA'ns with dual citizenship serving with the British army etc)

* Any of the Far East campaigns (ground forces or RAF but specifically ground forces, be they SA'ns with dual citizenship serving with the British army etc)

* Implicated in any atrocities (e.g. shooting POWs)

And finally - were any specifically decorated for their actions in these campaigns? Points one and two obviously!

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

No SA units were involved in actual D-day landings but on the planning staff for the landings there was Brigadier de Waal. Various RN ships involved in D-Day had substantial numbers of seconded South African sailors in their crews.

From Wikipedia:

Not sure if this relates to your enquiry, but Major G F Jacobs, a South African seconded to the Royal Marines, parachuted into Sumatra to receive the Japanese surrender. See his book "Prelude to the Monsoon"

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Many SAAF members were emabarked on ships traveling to the Far East when the Japanese surrendered.

SA Navy frigates were also headed that way. Odd scattered South Africans did serve in the eastern theatres - but I doubt they were ever on a platoon scale even.

Thanks fellas, all quite interesting. I know that NZ troops allegedly committed at least one atrocity during WW I in Palestine where they shot ~40 villagers in reprisal for the death of one of their soldiers.

I seem to recall reading something about them shooting German POW's during WW II. I've done some light Googling but can't seem to find anything. From memory (and I may be completely off target here) they were elements of the 28th Maori Bn and it happened either in North Africa or Italy. It is difficult to know which source to believe

Have there been any similar incidents involving SA'n soldiers?

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A plan is simply a basis for change.