This is the Book that is the basis for what I used to create this database.

 The Armed Forces of South Africa with an appendix on the commandos

By

Major G. Tylden

City of Johannesburg Africana Museum

Frank Connock Publication no. 2

Johannesburg 1954

The units that took part in the Cape Field Force have been classified and this information was supplied by David and Taffy Shearing (david.taffy@pixie.co.za)

"Ref CA D/D 6/106: Classification list South African Corps. Return of the Corps of the South African Mounted Irregular Forces.

These are given a classification of A1, E1 etc as listed. Only units which served in the Cape Colony are classified.

The following mode of classification of South African Irregular Forces generally ahs been approved and is to be strictly adhered to in future:

• Class A1 - Designated Cape Colonial Volunteer Corps, all Cape Cape Volunteer Corps, Mounted Rifle Clubs in existence prior to the commencement of hostilities since called out for active service bu Government Proclamation, and placed at the disposal of Imperial Military Authorities.
• Class A2 : As Above but not called out by Proclamation
• Class B : Cape Permanent Forces, only Cape Mounted Riflemen and Cape Police, both of which are directly under the control of the Colonial Government
• Class C : Designated South African Colonial Irregular Corps including all such corps as have been especially raised on account of the war after the start of hostilities, for General Service in South Africa.
• Class D1 : Designated Cape Colonial Irregular Corps including as Class D1, all such as have been especially raised on account of the war, subsequent to the commencement of hostilities, for general service but not outside the Cape Colony.
• Class D2 : As D1 but only for service in particular districts of the Cape Colony
• Class E : Designated Cape Colonial Forces, including only such corps as have already been, or may here after be, placed at the disposal of the Colonial Government for the defence of the Colony and as such paid for and maintained wholly by the Colonial Government. (Taffy's note: Class E was the Colonial Defence Force from January to November, 1901)

There is also a hand-written note on the classification : Extract from "Conditions of Service and Lists of South African Contingents employed in South African War, 1899-1902"

This is a list of Irregular units given to me by Clive French (frog01@mweb.co.za). I have used it to update my unit list.

South African Regiments Involved

 # = Medal Roll on File.

Just a short note to give you some more information about the Military Police Corps.

You have correctly stated that the Military Police Corps was raised on 10 November 1939, but in actual fact this is really only the date that the South African Corps of Military of Police ("Suid Afrikaanse Milit?re Polisie Korps") was renamed to the Military Police Corps.

The SA Corps of Military Police was formed on 30 December 1938, in terms of Proclamation 290 which was published in a Government Gazette on that day. The actual date of formation was back-dated to 1 November 1938, and this is considered to be the official birthday of the SACMP.

The SACMP was renamed to MPC on 10 November 1939 in terms of Proclamation 276 which was published in Government Gazette 2600.

On 18 October 1946 in terms of Government Notice 204 published in Government Gazette 3716, the Military Police Corps was renamed the South African Corps of Military Police ("Suid Afrikaanse Korps van Milit?re Polisie").

If you want, take a look at my web pages.

Simon D. Olley
Warrant Officer 1
SANDF Military Police Agency
Pretoria, South Africa
e-mail = redcap@mweb.co.za
Home Page = http://home.mweb.co.za/re/redcap