Today, 8 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
08 May 1966 05197975PE Warrant Officer Class 1 Louis Matthys Jakobus Pienaar from the Artillery School was killed when his Landrover was involved in a head-on collision with a civilian vehicle near Heidelberg. He was 45.
08 May 1980: 79860480HV Rifleman Simon Kanunu from 35 Battalion (Later 202 Battalion) SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 22.
08 May 1980: Two members of 36 Battalion (Later 203 Battalion) SWATF were Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. They were:
- 78900875SP Rifleman Kumsa Ntamshe. He was 22.
- 78901378SP Rifleman David Twi. He was 20.
08 May 1981: Two members from 2 SAI were Killed in action in a landmine explosion in Northern Owamboland. They were:
- 78420015BG Lance Corporal Johannes Petrus Botha. He was 19.
- 75556993BG Rifleman Johannes Willem Hanekom. He was 22.
08 May 1985: 74542200BT Rifleman Petrus Johannes Theron from the Germiston Commando was killed in a head-on collision between two Buffel Troop Carriers in the Kathlehong Township. He was 26.
08 May 1985: Special Constable Linus Abraham 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 24.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1970 – Rifleman Robert Ruric "Rob" GIBSON, 2 (Independent) Company, Rhodesia Regiment, killed on active service. Killed aged 19 by elephants in the Chara River area near Kariba. Robert was taking photographs at the time.
1973 – Trooper Vernon CLINTON, 1st Battalion, RLI, killed on active service. Died in Bindura Hospital from injuries received when an army truck overturned, aged 26. Buried at Warren Hills, Salisbury.
1976 – Alex ZUNGOWO, Pioneers, killed on active service. Died of a gunshot wound, Samushonga Kraal, Holdenby TTL, Op Thrasher. He was 30 years old and was based at BSAP Ruda.
1977 – Private Trevor Alexander MCLEOD, 3rd Battalion, RHU, Rhodesia Defence Regiment, died on active service. Died in Arcadia, Salisbury, aged 31 years. Buried in the Athlone Cemetery, Bulawayo
1977 – Rifleman Alan Graham "Big Boy" THOMAS, 5 (Independent) Company, Rhodesia Regiment, killed on active service. Died in a vehicle accident, aged 20. Buried in the Athlone Cemetery, Bulawayo.
1979 – Constable Edward CHIWETA, Section 1, 3 Troop, J Company, Support Unit, BSAP, KIA. Died in Salisbury Hospital from wounds received in an earlier contact in Mtoko, at the age of 26. This contact took place within ear-shot of the unit's forward operating base before first light. Edward was airlifted by chopper and stabilized en route to Mtoko Fire Force base. This incident was particularly tragic, in that Edward, in an attempt to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties, issued a challenge rather than firing his MAG, with him being shot in the abdomen. After initially doing well and on his way to a full recovery, his wound became infected and he died of septicaemia several weeks after the incident. His semi-military funeral was held at Warren Hills Cemetery, Salisbury, on 11 May.
1979 – District Security Assistant, Sanderson MWENYE, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service. P Rundgren gives the date as 01 May.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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