My late father Denis Sweeney served in 6th and 4/6th South African Armoured Car Regiment in East and North Africa, during WWII, (from 2nd Royal Natal Carbineers, and 14 SA Armoured Car Company.)
and was awarded the Kings Commendation (Military) for valuable Service rendered in connection with the War.
He volunteered for service on 27th May 1940.
I have his Service Record and Certificate of Service, received from the South African Defence Force.
6th and 4th/6th SAACR were part of 1st Armoured Division, X Corps, at Alamein.
I am interested in any information regarding their history and movements during these campaigns.
My son has just started a career in the New Zealand Army, and is currently doing 4 years training at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
My Gt Grandfather Robert served in the Crimea with the 79th Cameron Highlanders,
(with Four of his brothers in the Regiment, and his Father, Terence, (21yrs), and his Grandfather, before him,)
and in the Zulu War with 2nd Btn/ 3rd (East Kent) Regt of Foot, having initially been shipwrecked off the Cape, with his regiment, (and family), on the way to India.
He left the Service in 1879, after 33yrs service, and settled in South Africa.
(He had originally joined as a 'boy', giving a false age)
Ironically, at Alamein, 1st Armoured was behind;
51st Highland Division,(including 5Bn Camerons),
2nd New Zealand Division,
1st SA Division (which included 1 RNC in 1 SAI),
and 2nd Bn The Buffs, (My Gt Grandfathers outfit in the Zulu War), were in 132 Infantry Bgde, 44th Infantry Division, in the Line as well.
Quite a family affair !
and 'Sweeneys' in the Camerons fought against my mother's family, (from the original Dutch settlers into the Cape), in the Boer War in South Africa.
A wonderful legacy of family military History, which I need to pass on to my four sons before I depart this planet.
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