Today, 15 March, we salute and honour the following men & woman who sacrificed their lives whilst standing in the defence of what they held dear at the time and against evil and tyranny.
SOUTH AFRICAN BORDER WAR
15 March 1965: P50925 Corporal Ockert Jacobus Jordaan from the Army Service Corps was killed in a private motor vehicle accident near Fountains in Pretoria when his vehicle left the road and collided with a pole. He was 21.
15 March 1972: 685178861N Rifleman Werner Albrecht from the Technical Service Corps attached to 1 Field Ambulance Unit was killed instantly when a steam pressure cooker accidentally exploded at Elandsfontein. He was 19.
15 Mar 1982: 80834982 Rifleman Johannes Jasva from Northern Transvaal Command was killed in a military vehicle accident in Pretoria. He was 18.
15 Mar 1986: Special Constable Ernesto Hishidivali from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed In Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 28.
15 Mar 1987: 78329802PE Rifleman Marius Jacobus Hanekom from Infantry School was killed in a private vehicle accident approximately 3km from Prince Albert. He was 25.
15 Mar 1989: 05565460PE Warrant Officer Class 1 Andre Keyter from the Personnel Service Corps, stationed at Defence Headquarters, was found gassed in his private motor vehicle at Umhlanga Rocks. He was 41.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1974 – Tpr Johannes Jacobus VAN STADEN, Spt Grp, 1st Bn RLI, was killed by a gunshot wound in a contact in the North East border area, at the age of 21.
1977 – Pte Edward John JEFFRIES, Army, died in an accidental shooting.
1977 – Temp/Sgt - sniper Clive MASON (33), S Scouts, was killed by a gunshot at Malvernia during an exchange of fire with FRELIMO - he killed six of the enemy.
1980 – Kp Comm Charles Stanton PROVIS, PV Prtn Group, died on active service.
1980 – Pte Nkosi ZIKALI, 3 Maint, GSC, RhASC, died from gunshot wounds.