Today, 29 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
29 Jul 1965: 64208713 Private Petrus Frederick Johannes Kruger from the Army Service Corps died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained at Brits. He was 18.
29 Jul 1969: 68010198R 2/Lieutenant Andrew le Roux from 8 Squadron was killed when his AT-6 Harvard, Serial No. 7457 crashed into the Rustfontein Dam. The pilot was carrying out a low level navigation exercise when the aircraft descended too low in a turn and the wing made contact with the water causing the aircraft to cartwheel into the dam. He was 23.
29 Jul 1980: 72370133BG Sapper Hans Wolfgang Pfeffer from the South African Engineer Corps died in 1 Military Hospital after contracting cerebral meningitis while serving in the Operational Area. He was 24.
29 Jul 1982: 79500765BG Rifleman Johan Wilhelm Christiaan Scheepers from 5 SAI was killed while on official duty when his private motor vehicle overturned while he was on his way to attend a military parade. He was 18.
29 Jul 1983: 80430077BG Rifleman Andre Jordaan from 3 SAI was Killed in Action in a landmine explosion in Northern Owamboland. He was 19.
29 Jul 1986: 85519940BG Rifleman Martin Johannes Botes from 2 SAI was killed while standing guard duty at the Selelekela High School in Soweto when a fellow guard accidentally dropped his loaded rifle and a shot went off, hitting Martin in the head. He was rushed to the Baragwanath Hospital before being airlifted to 1 Military Hospital but succumbed to his injuries a short while later. He was 19.
29 Jul 1988: 76926591SP Sergeant Zacharias Eduardo from 32 Battalion was killed in a military vehicle accident. He was 35.
29 Jul 1991: 76238054PE Major Wilfred de Koker from 1 Reconnaissance Regiment was accidentally killed while participating in a night parachute training exercise at the Hellsgate Training Area. He was 32
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
29-Jul-77 FR Edwin Bebington PR BSAP KIA in a vehicle ambush, Inyanga, Op Thrasher, aged 22 years. See also F. Erasmus and E. Mahanzu.
29-Jul-77 PO Francois Erasmus SB BSAP KIA in a vehicle ambush, Inyanga area, Op Thrasher. Died aged 31. See also E Bebington and E Mahanzu.
29-Jul-77 Cst Emson Mahanzu Uniform BSAP KIA Died in a vehicle ambush, Inyanga district, Op Thrasher, aged 19 years. See also E Bebington and F Erasmus.
29-Jul-76 Rfn Michael Wevell 3(Indp) Coy RR KIA Died from gunshot wounds, in a vehicle ambush on their Land Rover near Regina Coeli Mission Hospital, in the Nyamaropa area, Op Thrasher, at the age of 18.
29-Jul-74 S/Sgt Roger Whittingham Sch of Signals RhSigs DOAS Died in Salisbury Central Hospital of malaria and leukaemia. He was 29 years old.
RIP Sapper Hans Wolfgang Pfeffer I never had the pleasure of meeting you, however I knew your family and I’m sure you’d have been as upstanding as them