Today, 10 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
10 Aug 1973: 65942179E Leading Seaman Hendrik van der Merwe from SAS Protea was killed at Bredasdorp when his Land Rover vehicle overturned after he lost control while driving on a section of road that was under construction. He was 27. His passenger, 68091503N Leading Seaman Ivan William Kearns, also from SAS Protea, was critically injured in this accident and succumbed to his injuries in hospital on 15 August 1973.
10 Aug 1978: Two members from 5 SAI attached to "B" Company, 2nd Platoon, 54 Battalion SWATF, were killed after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds in an accidental Rifle Grenade explosion. The casualties were:
- 71251615BG Lance Corporal Karl Paul Viljoen. He was 22.
- 75525477BG Rifleman Johannes Gerber le Roux. He was 18.
10 Aug 1985: Two members from Sector 30 SWATF were killed when their Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Welinitschia. The casualties were:
- 81093804BG Corporal Albert Johan Kotze. He was 19.
- 802988391BG Rifleman Johannes Frederik Louw. He was 20.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1978 – Gd L. Mpofu, GFRD GF, DOAS.