▁se iz ure ▁by ▁the ▁Japanese . ▁ ▁The ▁South ▁African ▁ 1 st ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁several ▁actions ▁in ▁North ▁Africa ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁and ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁including ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁El ▁Al ame in , ▁before ▁being ▁with dra wn ▁to ▁South ▁Africa . ▁ ▁The ▁South ▁African ▁ 2 nd ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁also ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁actions ▁in ▁North ▁Africa ▁during ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁but ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁two ▁complete ▁inf antry ▁brig ades ▁of ▁the ▁division , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁supporting ▁units , ▁were ▁captured ▁at ▁the ▁fall ▁of ▁Tob ru k . ▁ ▁The ▁South ▁African ▁ 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁never ▁took ▁an ▁active ▁part ▁in ▁any ▁batt les , ▁but ▁instead ▁organ ised ▁and ▁trained ▁the ▁South ▁African ▁home ▁defence ▁forces , ▁performed ▁g arrison ▁duties , ▁and ▁supplied ▁rep lac ements ▁for ▁the ▁South ▁African ▁ 1 st ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁and ▁the ▁South ▁African ▁ 2 nd ▁Infantry ▁Division . ▁However , ▁one ▁of ▁this ▁division ' s ▁constitu ent ▁brig ades , ▁ 7 ▁SA ▁Motor ised ▁Brigade , ▁did ▁take ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁Mal ag asy . ▁ ▁The ▁South ▁African ▁ 6 th ▁Arm oured ▁Division , ▁which ▁incorpor ated ▁many ▁Southern ▁Rh odes ian ▁volunte ers , ▁fought ▁in ▁numerous ▁actions ▁in ▁Italy ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4