On 01 August 2017, let us pause for a minute to remember the following young men from our Generation who answered the Final Roll Call.
01 Aug 1979: Lieutenant Sidney Edward Watts from 1 South West Africa Squadron SWATF was killed when his private Cessna 182 aircraft, Registration ZS-FLE, crashed at Eros Airport outside Windhoek during Squadron night flying exercises. He was 28.
01 Aug 1981: 79469367BG Private Rocco Bernard Du Plooy from 2 Squadron was accidentally killed while on official duty but the exact cause of his death is unknown. He was 17.
01 Aug 1987: 85901262BG Corporal Marius Albertus van Zyl from Infantry School was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Oudshoorn while on weekend pass. He was 20.
01 Aug 1988: 84582733BG Seaman Willem Schalk van der Merwe from SAS Rand was killed in a military bus accident in Durban. He was 19.
01 Aug 1990: Two members of the Cape Regiment were killed in a military vehicle accident at Hammersdale. The casualties were:
01 Aug 1992: 89959043CK Corporal Michael Paul Bankenberg from Group 39 was shot dead by a fellow soldier in Queenstown. He was 21. The soldier who did the shooting then committed suicide. He was 21.
01 Aug 1993: Two members from 3 SAI were killed when their Mamba Armoured Personnel Carrier overturned near Table Mountain outside Pietermaritzburg. The casualties were:
01-Aug-72 Pte Claudio Makaza 10 Spt Pltn 2 Bde KOAS Died in Salisbury Hospital from multiple injuries. He was 26 years old.
01-Aug-74 Chief Insp William "Bill" Coetzer SU BSAP DOAS after participating in a Support Unit training exercise at Marandellas. Bill had asked to be taken to hospital, as he was suffering from influenza, where he had a massive coronary thrombosis at 07:45am. Died aged 42.
01-Aug-76 Sgt Thomas France Army DOAS Died from cerebral haemorrhaging, at the age of 55.
01-Aug-77 Pte John Benyu Reg Army DOAS
01-Aug-77 Rfn Maurice Masterson Army KOAS in a vehicle accident.
01-Aug-77 Pte H. Vengisayi Sp Coy, 1 Bde RhASC KOAS in a vehicle accident, Op Tangent.
01-Aug-78 Gd S. Mudimu PV Prtn Group GF DOAS
01-Aug-78 Pte Felix Tichaona D Coy, 2nd Bn RR DOAS
01-Aug-78 Gd S. Dzimba PV Prtn Group GF DOAS
01-Aug-78 Gd S. Tsikira PV Prtn Group GF DOAS
01-Aug-78 Gd O. Matunduru PV Prtn Group GF DOAS
01-Aug-78 Gd C. Mtsombe PV Prtn Group GF DOAS
01-Aug-78 Rfn Michael Houey NS Army DOAS
01-Aug-78 Sgt Witness Emisoni Majaya Reg Army DOAS
01-Aug-78 K Cpl A. Mtupane PV Prtn Group GF DOAS
01-Aug-78 Aux Cst John M. John - not his surname PR BSAP DOAS
01-Aug-78 Gd N. Chifondondo PV Prtn Group GF DOAS
01-Aug-78 Cpl F. K. Chiringwa PV Prtn Group GF DOAS
01-Aug-79 Tpr Gary Maguire C Sqn SAS KIA from gunshot wounds in a CT action.
01-Aug-79 DSA Makasi Mubaiwa Kp Prtn Intaf DOAS