Today, 19 April, 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
19 April 1980: 76528173BG Rifleman Jacobus Petrus Koekemoer from 7 SAI was killed after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds in a mortar bomb explosion during a live firing exercise in Northern Owamboland. He was 19.
19 April 1981: 78500741BG Rifleman Karel Johan Cronje from 5 SAI was based at Okalongo and had been feeling ill for approximately two weeks. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital after being diagnosed with cerebral malaria. He succumbed not long after admission. He was 19.
19 April 1984: 83061689CK Rifleman Frank Corrie from the South African Cape Corps was killed after being struck by a bullet resulting from the accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle. He was 21.
19 April 1985: Special Warrant Officer Alfons Kumulo 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 37.
19 April 1988: 84572890BG Corporal Edward Clive Yeo from the South African Engineer Corps was attached to 101 Battalion SWATF. He was Killed in Action while disarming an enemy anti-tank mine that was booby-trapped with an anti-lifting device. The mine detonated immediately when it was disturbed and he was killed instantly in the resulting explosion. He was 20.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1978 – Lance Corporal Jacob GWAFA, 1st Battalion, RAR, killed on active service. Died by drowning. Buried in Lady Stanley Cemetery, Bulawayo.
1978 – Private Elias JONGWE, A Company, 2nd Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment, killed on active service. Killed in an accidental contact with another Army unit. See also N. Nago.
1978 – Private Nicholas NAGO, A Company, 2nd Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment, killed on active service. Killed in an accidental contact with another Army unit. See also E. Jongwe.
1978 – Private John ZVUKUVENDA, 2nd Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment, killed on active service. Died in an accidental shooting.
1979 – Rifleman Percy Richard MOORE, 2nd Battalion, Rhodesia Defence Regiment, died on active service. Died of heart failure, aged 29 years. Buried in the Athlone Cemetery, Bulawayo.
1979 – Trooper Russell Forbes POOLE, Mortar Troop, Support Commando, 1st Battalion, RLI, KIA. Killed in a contact during a Fire Force action in Chiduku TTL, Makoni district (Rusape), Op Thrasher.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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