Today, 21 December, 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
21 Dec 1977: 76690213BG Rifleman Stephen Victor Paul Devereaux from SWA SPES, SWATF died from a gunshot wound accidentally self-inflicted while he was serving at Okankolo in Northern Owamboland. He was 18.
21 Dec 1979: 80676695KB Rifleman C. Kavatjana from the Hereroland Area Force Unit SWATF was accidentally shot and killed by own forces after being caught in cross-fire during a heavy contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 25.
21 Dec 1983: 77414357BT Rifleman Gustav Carl Schönborn from the University of the Orange Free State Military Unit was killed when a military vehicle accidentally drove over him in very dusty conditions with poor visibility during anti-insurgent follow-up operations in Southern Angola. He was 21.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1976 – DSA Simbarashe VANGANI, Kp Prtn, Intaf, was killed in action in Chibi, Op Repulse.
1977 – Rfn Henry John HURLEY, 1st Bn, RR, died on active service.
1977 – GD Lovemore MUGWAGWA, PV Prtn Group, died on active service.
1978 – Pte Michael “Mike” JACK, 1st Bn, RDR, was killed in a vehicle accident, aged 27 years.
1978 – L/Cpl Gwaze MARUFU, 1st Bn, RAR, died on active service.
1979 – Pte Herbert Grainger VICTOR, Depot, RR, died from a shooting incident gunshot wound, aged 21 years.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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