Nick Bierman

South African military commander (1910–1977)

Army Chief of Staff
Inspector-General
GOC Joint Combat Forces

WarsWWIIAwards

Lieutenant-General Jacobus Nicolas Bierman SSA SM CBE (1910–1977) was a South African military commander. He played one Rugby Test Match for the Springbok team in 1931^[2]^[3]^: 89

Military career

He joined the South African Army in 1934.^[3]^: 89 During World War II he served in North Africa, and commanded the artillery of the South African 6th Armoured Division in Italy.

He served as Army Chief of Staff from 1958 to 1959,^[3]^: 89 as Inspector-General from 1959 to 1960,^[3]^: 89 as Director of Planning and Operations from 1960 to 1965,^[3]^: 89 and as General Officer Commanding Joint Combat Forces (GOCJCF), co-ordinating Army and Air Force operations and training, from 1965 to 1967. As GOCJCF, he was the third-highest-ranking officer in the South African Defence Force's Supreme Command.

Awards and decorations

In 1945 then Brigadier Bierman was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The notice in the London Gazette reads as follows:

The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy:
To be Additional Commanders of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:
Brigadier (temporary) Jacobus Nicolas Bierman (105970V), South African Forces.^[4]

He was also awarded the Bronze Star^[5]

Star of South Africa (1952) (SSA)
Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)
Order of the British Empire (Commander) (CBE)
Bronze Star Medal
Union Medal
1939–45 Star
Africa Star
Italy Star
Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
War Medal 1939–1945
Africa Service Medal (WWII)

References

^ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 19. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
^ ^a ^b "Jacobus Nicolas Bierman". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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.
^ "No. 37039". The London Gazette (Supplement). April 1945. p. 2067.
^ "No. 38459". The London Gazette (Supplement). November 1948. p. 6060.

Military offices
Preceded by Pieter Grobbelaar	Chief of the South African Army 1958–1959	Succeeded by Sybrand Engelbrecht
Preceded by Brig Jock B. Kriegler	OC Western Transvaal Command 1950–1953	Succeeded by Col Gustav Nauhaus
Preceded by Lt Col Frank Harpur	OC 4 Field Regiment 1945–1947	Succeeded by Lt Col Bull Jacobs