Today, 11 October, we salute and honour the following men & woman 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
11 Oct 1982: At the 1 SAI Mechanised Leadership Wing at Oshivello, soldiers were undergoing familiarisation training on foreign weapons used by insurgents. During one of these lectures, a soldier accidentally detonated a Soviet hand grenade killing five members. They were:
- 79446639BG Candidate Officer Casper Willem Johannes Geustyn. He was 20.
- 79547634BG Candidate Officer Paul Stephanus Venter. He was 19.
- 79360806BG Lance Corporal Alan Rodger Jones. He was 18.
- 79436630BG Lance Corporal Jacobus Theodorus Meyer. He was 19.
- 79435277BG Lance Corporal Edgar Sydney Wessels. He was 19.
11 Oct 1983: 79474862BG Private Werner Eugene Kriel from SAMS attached to No.1 Military Hospital was killed in a military vehicle accident at Potgietersrus. He was 20
11 Oct 1989: 85269223BG Lance Corporal Hermanus Swanepoel van der Merwe from 93 Ammunition Depot was critically injured in a military vehicle accident on 25 September 1989 16km outside Jan Kempdorp while carrying out Military Police duties. He died from his injuries at the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein on 11 October 1989. He was 20.
11 Oct 1991: 89516082BG Lance Corporal David John Boyd from Group 36 was killed in a military vehicle accident at Ladybrand. He was 19
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1976 – Tpr Richard John "Bob" HOPE, 9 Tp, 2 Cdo, 1st Bn, RLI, was killed in the Chipinga area, Op Thrasher, aged 17. While en route by helicopter to a sighting, the aircraft was subjected to CT ground fire, taking two hits, resulting in Bob's death.
1977 – Rfn William GREIG, NS, Army, died in a vehicle accident.
1977 – Tpr Mark Anthony HARRIS, G/Scts, died on active service.
1978 – DSA Black CHEMAMBO and DSA June TAURO, both of Kp Prtn, Intaf, were murdered by CTs in Mt Darwin.
1978 – DSA Trakisoni CHIYAMURO, Kp Prtn, Intaf, died on active service.
1978 – Pte Christopher NKALA, D Coy, 1st Bn, RAR, died from injuries received in a parachute drop that killed Pte Johanne Phiri instantly on 27 July 1978.
1979 – L/Cpl Syrial GATAWA, CTD, GSC, Army HQ, died of gunshot wounds sustained in a CT action.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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