With South Africa’s entry in World War II, the Middellandse Regiment got the opportunity to prove itself. Mobilisation orders was received on 5 September 1940. The Regiment was assigned to the 9th Infantry Brigade and finally to the 2nd South African Division. The Regiment left for Egypt on board the Mauritania on 10 June, arriving in Suez on 22 June and then transported to Mareopolis.
By the middle of August 1941, the Regiment was transported to El Alamein. After 5 October 1941, 2nd South African Division was placed under command of the 8th Army and moved to Bagush. The Regiment was now responsible for anti-aircraft and area defence at the Fuka airfield as well as protecting the railway line and coast between Bagush and Mersa Matruh.
The Regiment was involved in the attack on Bardia between 29 December 1941 and 2 January 1942. A Company of the Regiment was involved in the attack on Sollurn. After the fall of Sollurn, the Regiment moved on to Barrani but had to return to Sollurn to strengthen positions there.
B Company was moved to Tobruk in March 1942 under command of 3rd Brigade.
With the eventual fall of Tobruk, 444 members of the Regiment were taken prisoner. Due to the fact that the majority of the Regiment were now prisoners of war, the Regiment was officially disbanded on 6 September 1942, while the remaining members were transferred to Regiment 'President Steyn'. These elements were moved to Quassasin and again reassigned into 1 Rand Light Infantry as the DMR(Die Middellandse Regiment) Company, a reference to their previous Regiment. By January 1943, these elements were returned to South Africa.
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