Today, 5 July, we salute and honor the following men 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
05 Jul 1977: Corporal Peter Noel Wiggell HC from the Technical Services Corps was Killed in Action during a contact with PLAN insurgents while attached to Bravo Company Regiment Algoabaai. He was 25. (Only the previous year on 15 December 1976, Corporal Peter Wiggell was awarded the Honoris Crux after PLAN insurgents had opened fire on his TB near the Yati Strip with a Soviet 82 mm mortar mounted on the back of a truck. The platoon OP had seen the trucks lights and had climbed down the large tree in order to inform the mortar section of the truck's position. He was on his way back to his post when at approximately 22h00, PLAN opened fire. Corporal Wiggell, now back up the tree, opened fire with his LMG on the trucks position and directed counter mortar fire onto the PLAN position. PLAN insurgents returned fire with a 12,7mm heavy machine gun. The platoon launched 36 x 60mm High Explosive bombs onto the PLAN position and the truck received a direct hit. Corporal Wiggell had no protection whatsoever from enemy incoming fire while up the tree and despite the fact that the tree was virtually ripped apart by enemy machine-gun fire, he came away without a scratch. For his courageous action in the face of devastating enemy fire, he unflinchingly brought effective counter mortar fire onto the enemy position thereby saving not only the TB from being possibly overrun but also saving the lives of many of his).
05 Jul 1977: 75524363BG Sapper William Thomas Wiggell from 2 Field Engineer Regiment was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident at Bethlehem. He was 20.
05 Jul 1980: 78900255SP Rifleman J. Dingombo from 31 Battalion (210 Battalion) SWATF was accidentally killed when he fell from a horse and broke his neck. He was 23
05 Jul 1981: 78506755BG Rifleman Aubrey Leonard Neveling from 6 SAI was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 18.
05 Jul 1982: 76380161BG Corporal Andre van der Walt from 4 Vehicle Reserve Park was killed in a private motor vehicle accident approximately 20km from Bloemfontein on the Winburg - Bloemfontein road. He was 21.
05 Jul 1985: 83215194BG Airman Benjamin Arthur Nell from the South African Air Force was accidentally shot dead at his Guard Post at Eros Airport, Windhoek as a result of an accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle. He was 18.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
05-Jul-73 Cpl Shadreck Chinyani 1st Bn RAR KIA Died from a gunshot wound in a contact, Op Hurricane, at the age of 27.
I served with airman Nell at the time of his accidental death. It was a huge shock when we were called back to base due to the accident. He was a wonderfull friend and caring young man.