Today, 1 August, 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
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:
- 82071812BW Rifleman Johannes Jacobus Lourens. He was 27.
- 88066451BW Rifleman Cupido Johannes Mentoor. He was 21.
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:
- 92067248BG Lance Corporal L. P. Petersen. He was 19.
- 91096768BG Lance Corporal Johnathan Mervin Thomas. He was 20.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
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