South African Medical Service
The South African Medical Service (SAMS) was a branch of the South African Defence Force (SADF). In 1994 when the SADF was merged with various other military and armed resistance forces as part of the post-apartheid reforms the SAMS became the South African Military Health Service of the South African National Defence Force. The SAMS operated three hospitals, 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, 2 Military Hospital in Cape Town, and 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein. It also had three specialist institutes; the Institute for Aviation Medicine, the Institute for Maritime Medicine, and the Military Psychological Institute.[1]
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History
[edit]The SA Defence Act Amendment Act, No. 22 of 1922 re-organised the Permanent Force. From 1 February 1923 the Permanent Force consisted a number of Corps, including the SA Medical Corps.[2][3]
By that time three Medical Corps were already in existence, the Transvaal Medical Corps (established in 1903), the Natal Volunteer Medical Corps (established in 1899) and the Cape Medical Staff Corps.[4]
Over the years, the following Corps formed part of the South African Army:
- SA Veterinary Corps (1913–46) - incorporated into SA Medical Corps (SAMC)
- SA Medical Corps (1913–70) - incorporated into South African Medical Service
- SA Military Nursing Service (1914–70)
- SA Military Nursing Corps (1970–72) - incorporated into SAMS
Organisation of Medical Corps in 1970s
[edit]In the late 1970's before the establishment of the South African Medical Service as an independent Arm of Service, the SA Army's Medical Corps' mobile elements were organised as follows:
Assigned to 1 SA Corps:
- 23 Mobile Hospital,
- 48 Field Ambulance Unit, and
- 26 Field Hygiene Company.
Assigned to 7 South African Infantry Division:
- 17 Mobile Hospital, and
- 17 Field Ambulance Unit,
as divisional troops, while each brigade had assigned a field ambulance unit (numbered 71, 72 and 73 respectively).
Assigned to 8th Armoured Division (South Africa):
- 18 Mobile Hospital and
- 18 Field Ambulance Unit,
as divisional troops, while each brigade had assigned a field ambulance unit (numbered 81, 82, 83 and 84 respectively).
The SAMS was established in July 1979 as a service branch of the SADF.[5] The establishment combined the medical services of the Army, Navy and the Air Force. The head of the SAMS was the Surgeon-General who had the rank of Lieutenant-General.[1] The role of the SAMS was to provide health and medical support services to the SADF, it included a veterinary section that looked after dogs and horses.
Leadership
[edit]From | Surgeons General | To |
1 February 1960 | Maj Gen Eugene Raymond SSA SM | 31 March 1969 |
1 April 1969 | Lt Gen Colin Cockcroft SSA SM | 31 October 1977 |
1 November 1977 | Lt Gen Nicolaas Nieuwoudt SSA SD SM | 29 February 1988 |
1 March 1988 | Lt Gen Daniel Knobel SSAS SD SOE SM MMM KStJ MBC HB PHD | 27 April 1994 |
Ranks
[edit]- Officers
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General Generaal |
Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal |
Major General Generaal-Majoor |
Brigadier Brigadier |
Colonel Kolonel |
Commandant Kommandant |
Major Majoor |
Captain Kaptein |
Lieutenant Luitenant |
Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "South Africa Medical Service". Photius.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ Lillie, A.C. (1982). "The Origin and Development of the South African Army". South African Journal of Military Studies. 12 (2).
- ^ Orpen, Neil. "Appendix 1:THE UNION DEFENCE FORCE BEFORE 1933". HyperWar. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
- ^ Pretorius, C.M.L (1982). "DIE SAGD - SY ONTSTAAN EN ONTWIKKELING". Scientaria Militaria. 12 (2).
- ^ "A Brief History of the South African Defence Force (SADF) 1912 1994. Part 2". Allexplore.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.