Today, 30 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
30 April 1979: 75515833BG Private Martinus Johannes Schroeder from the Technical Service Corps was critically injured in a private vehicle accident between Vrede and Standerton on 09 March 1979. He succumbed to his injuries in 1 Mil Hospital on 30 April 1979. He was 19.
30 April 1982: 78310109BG Rifleman Eddie James Barnard from 4 SAI was critically wounded by a fellow soldier while on duty in Northern Owamboland. A soldier was in the process of making his R4 rifle safe while standing next to a Buffel Troop carrier. Eddie Barnard was in the rear of the Buffel, leaning over the side watching him when the shot went off, critically wounding him in the head. He was evacuated by helicopter but succumbed to his wounds in hospital. He was 19.
30 April 1983: 78930369HK Sergeant B. Mukosho from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 27.
30 April 1987: Three members from 5 Maintenance Unit were killed in a military vehicle accident at Ondangwa. The casualties were:
- 85074250BW Private Booi Julies. He was 21
- 85957013CK Private Nicolaas Koopman. He was 18.
- 85075992BW Private Esau Oosthuizen. He was 19.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1968 – Trooper Johannes VAN DER HEEVER, 1st Battalion, RLI, killed on active service. Died in Salisbury Central Hospital from injuries sustained in an accident, aged 20 years. Buried in the Athlone Cemetery, Bulawayo.
1974 – District Assistant Joseph DAMBUZA, Regular, Intaf, KIA. Killed at Concession, Op Hurricane.
1978 – Reserve Patrol Officer Vivian Terence Murray BAKER, Police Reserve, BSAP, murdered. Killed in an armed robbery, aged 35. Vivian, together with a Mr Angus Fadness, was murdered during a bank payroll robbery 25 km from Salisbury on the Arcturus road. The mine engineer was arrested and convicted of the murders. He committed suicide in his prison cell before being hanged for his crime.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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