Login
Login

Willem Louw

{{short description|South African army general}}

{{for|the South African cricketer|Willem Louw (cricketer)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{more citations needed|date=October 2013}}

{{Use South African English|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox military person

|honorific_prefix = Lieutenant General

|name = Willem Petrus Louw

|honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SSA52|SM52}}

|native_name =

|native_name_lang =

|image = Willem Louw.jpg

|image_size =

|alt =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|11|24|df=y}}

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|07|04|1920|11|24|df=y}}

|birth_place = Bloemhof, South Africa

|death_place =

|placeofburial = Voortrekkerhoogte, Pretoria, Gauteng, New Military cemetery

|placeofburial_label =

|placeofburial_coordinates = {{Coord|-25.78148|28.12166|display=inline,title}}

|nickname =

|birth_name =

|allegiance = {{flag|South Africa|1928|name=Republic of South Africa}}

|branch = {{army|South Africa|1981}}

|serviceyears = 1938{{ndash}}1975

|rank = Lieutenant General

|servicenumber =

|unit =

|commands = {{plainlist |

  • Inspector General of the SADF
  • Chief of the Army
  • Northern Transvaal Command
  • SA Military College
  • 1 Parachute Battalion

}}

|battles = World War II

|battles_label = Wars

|awards = {{MilAward Stack|SSA52 |SM52 |QEII |Union |Star1939_45 |ItalyStar |DefenceMedalWWII |WarMed1939_45 |ASM|size=x12px}}

|relations =

|laterwork =

|signature =

|website =

}}

Lieutenant-General Willem Petrus Louw {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SSA52|SM52}} (Bloemhof,{{Rp|255}} 24 November 1920{{snd}}4 July 1980){{cite web|title=LOUW Willem Petrus 1920-1980|url=http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=926650|access-date=29 December 2014}} was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army in the Special Service Battalion in 1938,{{cite journal|last1=Nöthling|first1=C.J.|last2=Meyers|first2=E.M.|title=Leiers Deur die Jare (1912-1982)|journal=Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies|date=1982|volume=12|issue=2|doi=10.5787/12-2-631|url=http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/631|issn=2224-0020|language=Afrikaans|format=Online|access-date=2 January 2015|pages=89–98|doi-access=free}}{{Rp|94}} and served in Italy in World War II.

Military career

After enlisting as a private, he served as an NCO in the Technical Service Corps (SAOC){{Rp|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 South African Army Armoured Corps. He was transferred to the 6th Armoured Division and deployed to the Middle East and Italy.{{Rp|94}}

After the war, he served in various posts and in 1959 became Officer Commanding North West Cape Command{{Rp|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.{{Rp|255}} In 1966 he served as OC Northern Transvaal Command{{Rp|94}} as a Brigadier and Chief of the Army from 1967 to 1973,{{cite web|title=Fact file: Chiefs of the SA Army|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=667&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105|website=defenceweb.co.za|publisher=Defence Web|access-date=29 December 2014|date=10 November 2008}}{{Rp|94}} and as Inspector-General of the South African Defence Force from 1973 to 1975.{{Rp|94}}

After a re-organisation of the SADF, the position of Inspector General was abolished and he retired on 31 March 1975.{{Rp|94}}

Awards and decorations

  • {{MilAward Desc|SSA52|x25px}}{{snd}}1974{{cite book | title=We conquer from above | publisher=PelsA Books| last1=Els|first1=Paul J WO1 | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-620-46738-4}}{{Rp|255}}
  • {{MilAward Desc|SM52|x25px}}{{snd}}1962
  • {{MilAward Desc|QEII|x25px}}
  • {{MilAward Desc|Union|x25px}}
  • {{MilAward Desc|Star1939_45|x25px}}
  • {{MilAward Desc|ItalyStar|x25px}}
  • {{MilAward Desc|DefenceMedalWWII|x25px}}
  • {{MilAward Desc|WarMed1939_45|x25px}}
  • {{MilAward Desc|ASM|x25px}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

See also

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{s-bef | before = Maj Gen Fritz Loots }}

{{s-ttl | title = Inspector General of the SADF| | years = 1973{{ndash}}1975}}

{{s-non | reason=Post Abolished }}

{{s-bef | before = Charles 'Pop' Fraser }}

{{s-ttl | title = Chief of the South African Army| | years = 1967{{ndash}}1973}}

{{s-aft | after = Magnus Malan }}

{{s-bef | before = Brig JH Burgher}}

{{s-ttl | title = OC Northern Transvaal Command| | years = 1966{{ndash}}1967}}

{{s-aft | after = Brig FJ van Deventer }}

{{s-bef | before = Col JH Burgher }}

{{s-ttl | title = OC South African Military College| | years = 1964{{ndash}}1966}}

{{s-aft | after = Col JW van Niekerk }}

{{s-new | creation | reason = Regiment Founded }}

{{s-ttl | title = OC 1 Parachute Battalion| | years = April 1961{{ndash}}1964}}

{{s-aft | after = Jan Fourie }}

{{s-end}}

{{SA Army Chiefs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Louw, Willem}}

Category:1920 births

Category:1980 deaths

Category:Afrikaner people

Category:South African people of Dutch descent

Category:South African military personnel of World War II

Category:Chiefs of the South African Army

Category:People from Bloemhof