Today, 13 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
13 Aug 1973: 01506658E Captain Dietlof Ziegfried Weyers from 2 SAI died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained while stationed at Walvis Bay. He was 31.
13 Aug 1975: 72354327N Lance Corporal Machiel Casparus Eksteen Potgieter was accidently shot dead after being struck by a bullet resulting from the accidental discharge of a 7.62 MAG machine-gun while his convoy was parked at Ruacana Airfield and weapons were in the process of being cleared and checked. He was 18.
13 Aug 1980: 76509793BG Rifleman Johan Calitz from 3 SAI Died of Wounds received while on patrol in the Okatopi area when his Section was ambushed by approximately 50 PLAN insurgents who were part of the annual mass incursion into the area from Angola during the rainy season. Johan was critically wounded in the encounter and unfortunately succumbed to his wounds while being ferried to AFB Ondangwa on the casevac Helicopter. Three others in the Section were also wounded during the fire-fight. This was his third and final border duty tour during National Service having previously completed tours of duty at Ruacana and Ombalantu. He was 20.
13 Aug 1981: Two members from SWATF were killed while returning to Sector 50 Headquarters when the privately owned civilian aircraft in which they were flying as passengers, crashed shortly after take-off from Gobabis. The casualties were:
- 08430522PR Colonel Jacobus Cornelius Theron from Sector 50 Headquarters. He was 63.
- 73578437KV Lieutenant Josef Johannes Fourie from the Gobabis Area Force Unit. He was 41.
13 Aug 1983: 80481062BG Rifleman Gavin Viljoen from 7 SAI was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident near Phalaborwa. He was 19.
13 Aug 1984: Two members from the South African Cape Corps were killed when their Buffel Troop carrier overturned at Eersterivier. The casualties were:
- 84076124CK Rifleman Jannie van Wyk. He was 18.
- 83060095BG Rifleman Jan Johannes Jacobus Wildschutt. He was 20.
13 Aug 1988: 85598530BG Lance Corporal Arthur Mark Fletcher from 5 SAI died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained due to an accidental discharge of a fellow soldiers rifle while undergoing training at Henley Dam. He was 18.
13 Aug 1988: Special Constable Andreas Ipinge from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops K (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 26.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
13-Aug-67 L/Cpl/Act Cpl Davison Mukombo A Coy, 1st Bn RAR KIA Died from gunshot wounds in a contact near Inyantue, northern Matabeleland, JOC Wankie, Op Nickel. He was 30 years old. His unit engaged a gang of 21 Algerian-trained terrorists comprising elements of ZAPU and the SAANC from the Lobengula Group.
13-Aug-67 Pte Koroni Kambante A Coy, 1st Bn RAR KIA Died from gunshot wounds in a contact, near Inyantue, northern Matabeleland, JOC Wankie, Op Nickel. He was 21 years old. His unit engaged a gang of 21 Algerian-trained terrorists comprising elements of ZAPU and the SAANC from the Lobengula Group.
13-Aug-77 Pte Patrick (Phillip?) Manunure 2nd Bn RAR Mrd by CTs
13-Aug-78 Aux Cst John Mukomawasha PR BSAP KOAS Died from injuries in a vehicle accident five days earlier, aged 20 years.
13-Aug-78 PO Christopher Carroll Uniform BSAP KOAS Died in a vehicle accident in the Macheke Farming district, Op Thrasher, aged 22 years.
13-Aug-78 Rfn Michael Holley 5th Bn RR KIA Killed in a CT action, at the age of 31.
13-Aug-78 Aux Cst John Mateko PR BSAP KIA in a CT action, at the age of 22.
13-Aug-79 FR John McGarrell PR BSAP KIA in a CT action whilst on convoy duty, at the age of 49.
13-Aug-79 Aux Cst - Stick Ldr Peniyasi Bvunzanayi PR BSAP KIA Died from wounds in a CT action, Op Grapple, aged 41.