Pieter Grobbelaar

General Pieter Grobbelaar, SSA DSO (16 September 1908 – 22 June 1988)[2] was a South African military commander. He served as Army Chief of Staff from 1953 to 1958, and Commandant General of the South African Defence Force from 1961 to 1965.

For the South African politician, see Pieter Grobbelaar (politician).

General

Pieter Hendrik Grobbelaar

SSA DSO
Born(1908-09-16)16 September 1908
Porterville, Cape Colony[1]
Died22 June 1988(1988-06-22) (aged 79)
AllegianceSouth Africa
Service/branchSouth African Army
Years of service1933–1965
RankGeneral
Commands held
WarsSecond World War
AwardsStar of South Africa SSA Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ' Union Medal ' Distinguished Service Order DSO 1939–45 Star ' Africa Star ' Italy Star ' War Medal 1939 – 1945 MID Defence Medal (United Kingdom) ' Africa Service Medal (WWII) '

Military career

Grobbelaar joined the South African Army as a part-time Citizen Force soldier in 1929 and became a full-time Permanent Force member in 1933.[3]: 92 

During the Second World War, Grobbelaar commanded the 7th Reconnaissance Battalion as a lieutenant colonel, and was second-in-command of the 12th Motorised Brigade, 6th Armoured Division during the Italy.[1]

After the war, Grobbelaar served as Officer Commanding Orange Free State Command, Northern Transvaal Command and the South African Military College.[3]: 93 

Grobbelaar served as Army Chief of Staff from 1953 to 1958, as Inspector-General from 1958 to 1959, as Deputy Commandant-General from 1959 to 1960, and as Commandant General of the South African Defence Force from 1961 to 1965.[4]

Awards and decorations

References
  1. Who's Who of Southern Africa 1964. Wootton & Gibson (Pty) Ltd. 1964. p. 367.
  2. "GROBBELAAR Pieter Hendrik 1908–1988". eggsa.org.
  3. Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leiers Deur die Jare (1912-1982)" (Online). Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies (in Afrikaans). 12 (2): 89–98. doi:10.5787/12-2-631. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  4. Leon Engelbrecht. "Fact file: Chiefs of the SANDF, past and present". defenceweb.co.za.
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