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South African Medical Service

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

History

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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

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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

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South African Medical Service
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

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Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
South African Medical Service
(1961–1994)
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

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  1. ^ a b "South Africa Medical Service". Photius.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  2. ^ Lillie, A.C. (1982). "The Origin and Development of the South African Army". South African Journal of Military Studies. 12 (2).
  3. ^ Orpen, Neil. "Appendix 1:THE UNION DEFENCE FORCE BEFORE 1933". HyperWar. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  4. ^ Pretorius, C.M.L (1982). "DIE SAGD - SY ONTSTAAN EN ONTWIKKELING". Scientaria Militaria. 12 (2).
  5. ^ "A Brief History of the South African Defence Force (SADF) 1912 1994. Part 2". Allexplore.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.