Today, 7 May, 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
07 May 1982: 77522571BG Corporal Hercules Petrus Bester from 5 SAI was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents at Tsumeb. He was 20.
07 May 1982: 76514728BG Private Barry Andre van Tonder from the Technical Service Corps was accidentally electrocuted at Lohatla and could not be revived. He was 22.
07 May 1983: Two members from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops K Division (Koevoet) were Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. They were:
- Special Warrant Officer Lebeus Vilho. He was 36.
- Constable Nico Johannes Swiegers. He was 22.
07 May 1984: Special Sergeant Filupus Matheus 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.
07 May 1985: 76339076BG Gunner Conrad Heathcote from 10 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment collapsed and died after suffering a fatal heart attack during Junior Leaders Course at Youngsfield. He was 24.
07 May 1985: 84905439SW Rifleman A.H. Ambrosius from 101 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near the Cut-Line. He was 19.
07 May 1987: 84399422BG Rifleman Christopher George Docherty from 7 SAI was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Barberton. He was 23.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1973 – Corporal David Douglas "Dave" ROSEDALE, 10th Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment, killed on active service. Died aged 33 in a vehicle accident when the African driver lost control of his Bedford RL and rolled it, killing Dave. The incident happened in Mt Darwin, Op Hurricane. Buried in Que Que Cemetery.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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