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 accidentally 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 before he was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital after being diagnosed with cerebral malaria. He unfortunately succumbed to the disease shortly after admission. He was 19.
19 April 1984: 83061689CK Rifleman Frank Corrie from the South African Cape Corps died from a gunshot wound accidentally self-inflicted after discharging his own rifle while on patrol. 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.
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.