South African Overseas Expeditionary Force The South African Overseas Expeditionary Force ( SAOEF ) was a volunteer military organisation in World War I . Organisation . The South Africa n government formed the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force ( " SAOEF " ) in July 1915 , as its contribution to the British war effort against the Central Powers . As South African legislation restricted the Union Defence Forces ( UDF ) to operating in southern Africa , an entirely new force , made up of volunteers , had to be raised for service in other theatres of war . As they were not officially a South African force , the SAOEF was placed under British operational command for operations on the Western Front . Many volunteers came from UDF units , but they enrolled as individuals , not as contingents , and there was no formal link between SAOEF and UDF units as such . The SAOEF consisted of several arms of service : SAOEF units and formations did not serve as distinct South African forces , but were integrated into the British imperial armies and divisions in the field . Campaigns . The SAOEF fought in four campaigns . German East Africa Campaign ( 1916 – 1918 ) . During the East African Campaign ( World War I ) , there was strong South African participation and leadership . " SA Field Artillery " , the " 1st " and " 2nd SA Mounted Brigades " , the " 2nd " and " 3rd SA Infantry Brigades " , and the " Cape Corps " fought in British operations against German forces in German East Africa ( now Tanzania ) from January 1916 until the war in Africa ended on 25 November 1918 . Two South African generals , Lt . Gen . Jan Smuts and Lt . Gen . Sir Jacob van Deventer , commanded the operations . Their major battles were : Salaita Hill , Kilimanjaro , and Kondoa - Irangi in 1916 ; and Behobeho , Narungombe , and Nyangao in 1917 . Captain William Anderson Bloomfield won the Victoria Cross for gallantry . Egypt Campaign ( 1916 ) . The " 1st SA Infantry Brigade " was deployed in British operations against the Sanusi in Egypt from January to March 1916 . It fought in the battles of Halazin and Agagiya . Western Front Campaign ( 1916 – 1918 ) . The " SA Heavy Artillery " and the " 1st SA Infantry Brigade " fought in the trenches of the Western Front against German forces in France and Belgium , from May 1916 until the war in Europe ended on 11 November 1918 . They fought in the battles of the Somme in 1916 ; Arras , Ypres , and Menin in 1917 ; and Passchendaele , Messines , Mont Kemmel , and Cambrai in 1918 . The two events of the campaign that are still commemorated are the Battle of Delville Wood ( part of the Somme offensive ) , and the sinking of the troopship SS " Mendi " , with the loss of more than 600 African members of the " SA Native Labour Contingent " ( 1917 ) . Two SAOEF members , Pte William Frederick Faulds and L Cpl William Henry Hewitt , won the Victoria Cross for gallantry . Palestine Campaign ( 1917 – 1918 ) . The " SA Field Artillery " and the " Cape Corps " fought in British operations against Turkish forces in Palestine from August 1917 until the end of the war in November 1918 . They fought in the battles of Gaza , El Mughar , and Nebi Samwil in 1917 ; and Tel Asur , Battle of Megiddo 1918 , Sharon , and Nablus in 1918 . Disbandment . The SAOEF units and formations were disbanded in 1919 . As there were no formal links between SAOEF units and the Union Defence Forces units which had provided their initial manpower , the SAOEF ' s war record , including its many honours , was not perpetuated by the UDF ( except for the " Cape Corps " battle honours , which were allowed to the " SA Cape Corps Service Battalion " formed in 1973 ) .