Willem Louw

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For the South African cricketer, see Willem Louw (cricketer).
Willem Petrus Louw

SSA SM
Willem Louw.jpg
Born(1920-11-24)24 November 1920
Bloemhof, South Africa
Died4 July 1980(1980-07-04) (aged 59)
Buried
Voortrekkerhoogte, Pretoria, Gauteng, New Military cemetery[1]
25°46′53″S 28°07′18″E / 25.78148°S 28.12166°E / -25.78148; 28.12166Coordinates: 25°46′53″S 28°07′18″E / 25.78148°S 28.12166°E / -25.78148; 28.12166
Allegiance Republic of South Africa
Service/branch South African Army
Years of service1938 – 1975
RankLieutenant General
Commands held
  • Inspector General of the SADF
  • Chief of the Army
  • Northern Transvaal Command
  • SA Military College
  • 1 Parachute Battalion
Battles/warsWorld War II
Awards

Lieutenant-General Willem Petrus Louw SSA SM (Bloemhof,[2]: 255  24 November 1920 – 4 July 1980)[1] was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army in the Special Service Battalion in 1938,[3]: 94  and served in Italy in World War II.

Military career[]

After enlisting as a private he served as a NCO in the Technical Service Corps (SAOC)[2]: 255  and was seconded to the South African Infantry. In 1943 he attended a Candidate Officers course and was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the . He was transferred to the 6th Armoured Division and deployed to the Middle East and Italy.[3]: 94 

After the war he served in various posts and in 1959 became Officer Commanding [2]: 255  In 1960 he attended a Parachute Instructors course in England. He was promoted to Commandant (Lieutenant Colonel) in January 1961 and in April 1961 became the founder and first commanding officer of 1 Parachute Battalion. He was promoted to Colonel in 1964 and appointed OC of the Military College in Voortrekkerhoogte.[2]: 255  In 1966 he served as OC Northern Transvaal Command[3]: 94  as a Brigadier and Chief of the Army from 1967 to 1973,[4][3]: 94  and as Inspector-General of the South African Defence Force from 1973 to 1975.[3]: 94 

After a re-organisation of the SADF the position of Inspector General was abolished and he retired on 31 March 1975.[2][3]: 94 

Awards and decorations[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "LOUW Willem Petrus 1920-1980". Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Els, Paul J WO1 (2010). We conquer from above. PelsA Books. ISBN 978-0-620-46738-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ "Fact file: Chiefs of the SA Army". defenceweb.co.za. Defence Web. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

See also[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Maj Gen Fritz Loots
 Inspector General of the SADF
1973 – 1975 		Post Abolished
Preceded by Chief of the South African Army
1967 – 1973 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Brig
OC Northern Transvaal Command
1966 – 1967 		Succeeded by
Brig
Preceded by
Col
OC South African Military College
1964 – 1966 		Succeeded by
Col
New creation
Regiment Founded
 OC 1 Parachute Battalion
April 1961 – 1964 		Succeeded by
Jan Fourie
Retrieved from ""