Du Toit joined the
South African Army as an
artilleryman in 1924. He completed the
British Army Specialist Staff Course in 1936. During the
Second World War, he commanded
Divisional artillery in
East Africa and
North Africa, before commanding the
2nd South African Infantry Brigade in 1942 and the
1st South African Armoured Brigade from 1943 to 1945. For his service, Du Toit was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order and
Mentioned in Despatches. Du Toit served as
Director-General of Land Forces, the head of the South African Army, from 1948 to 1950, and as
Chief of the General Staff of the
Union Defence Force, from 1950 to 1956. ==References==