Today, 29 January, 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
29 Jan 1979: 74300575BG Rifleman Gary James Rautenbach from 6 SAI Died of Wounds after being critically injured in a landmine explosion at Endobe on the 20 Jan 1979. He succumbed to his wounds in 1 Military Hospital on 29 January 1979. He was 20.
29 Jan 1982: 7667282BT Rifleman George Edmond Jacobson from the Kimberley Regiment was killed at Katima Mulilo when he was struck and run over by a private civilian vehicle while manning a control check point. He was 22.
29 Jan 1987: 80521537BG Private Charel Andries Fourie from 5 Maintenance Unit was killed in a military vehicle accident at Ogongo. He was 22.
29 Jan 1987: Two members of the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K (Koevoet) were Killed in Action during a contact with PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. They were:
- Special Sergeant Tulengepo Lungameni. He was 36.
- Special Sergeant Petrus Pius. He was 35.
29 Jan 1987: W/405963P Constable Willem Christiaan Scheepers from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K (Koevoet) was killed in a motor vehicle accident. He was 24.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1969 – Sgt James Bernard "Jim" CARY, Spt Grp, 1st Bn, RLI, died from a gunshot wound in a shooting accident, Zambezi Valley, aged 24. That evening, Jim had received orders to move back from their position on the Zambezi River at Kanyemba, as the SAS were due to launch an operation there the following morning. That night, now camped a distance from the river and hearing a noise, Jim went out to investigate. On returning to the camp, he failed to identify himself and was shot in the chest by a corporal from Base Group. In spite of the efforts by troop medic Corporal Holloway, Jim died from the wound
1974 – DA Regis MAHOVE, Regular, Intaf, died from gunshot wounds near Kasimbwe Beer Hall (US331131) Shamva, Op Hurricane. He was one of three DAs apprehended by CTs, beaten and bound by the side of the road, then shot. The other two survived their ordeal. He was 21 years old.
1980 – Spr Stanley SIBANDA, RhE, was killed during an attack on the DC camp at Mudzi, Op Hurricane.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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