Pienaar joined the artillery branch of the Natal Police (NP) in 1911, and transferred to the Union Defence Forces (UDF) when they took over the NP in 1913. In World War I, he served as an artilleryman with the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force in German East Africa and Palestine.
Between the two world wars, Pienaar held various staff and command posts.
From 1940 to 1941, during the East African Campaign, Pienaar commanded the 1st South African Infantry Brigade. He fought in the battles of El Wak, The Juba, Combolcia, and Amba Alagi).
From 1941 to 1942, during the North Africa Campaign, Pienaar fought in the battles of Sidi Rezegh and Gazala). At Gazala, he was promoted to command the 1st South African Division, which he led in the battle of Gazala, the retreat to Egypt, the defence of El Alamein, and the final battle of El Alamein. He was twice awarded the DSO and mentioned in dispatches twice for his service in North Africa.
In 1942, Pienaar was killed in an air crash in Kenya. He on his way back to South Africa.
Major General Pienaar was arguably one of South Africa's most charismatic and popular military commanders. An infantry regiment and a suburb of his home town, Bloemfontein, were later named after him.
See also
References
- Militaria - Official Professional Journal of the SADF (Vol 12/2: 1982)
- Eric Rosenthal, "General Dan Pienaar - His Life and His Battles", (Unie-Volkspers Beperk, Cape Town, 1943), pp. 3, 170
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