Today, 18 June, 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
18 Jun 1975: Two members from Infantry School accidentally drowned at Gamkaskloof. They were:
- 71350987N Rifleman Gabriel Johannes Erasmus. He was 19.
- 72472863N Rifleman Gerhard Joshua Franzen. He was 19
18 Jun 1983: 82571357BG Rifleman Johan Steyn from 3 SAI died from a gunshot wound accidentally self-inflicted while at Potchefstroom. He was 18.
18 Jun 1984: 83890780SWK Rifleman Paulus Hausiku from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 20.
18 Jun 1985: 79428983BG Private Kurt Preuss from the Technical service Corps was killed when struck by a bullet resulting from the accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle. He was 21.
18 Jun 1987: Five members from 32 Battalion were Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces near Evale in Southern Angola during Operation Radbraak. The casualties were:
- 78910858SP Corporal Bernard Sokola. He was 34
- 76902279SP Lance Corporal Joao Vocolo. He was 32
- 76927979SP Rifleman Joao Goncalves. He was 38.
- 81521999SP Rifleman Paulus Kapinga. He was 32.
- 84719814SP Rifleman Lituya Ntjamba. He was 19.
18 Jun 1988: Special Warrant Officer Daniel Katapotle from the SWA Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 37.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1977 – District Security Assistant GANGARAHWE, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – District Security Assistant Joel GURORE, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – District Security Assistant KAHONDO, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – District Security Assistant Tiberius MAHONDE, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – District Security Assistant MATIKENYA, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – District Security Assistant NHIDZA, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – District Security Assistant Edward SIBANDA, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – Field Reservist Gordon Ian MURDOCH, PATU, BSAP, KIA. Killed aged 31 by a gunshot wound after his vehicle had detonated a landmine in an ambush in the Shabani area, Op Repulse. His semi-military funeral took place in Salisbury on 22 June.
1978 – Field Reservist MUNETSI, CP9, Police Reservist Stock Theft Unit, BSAP, KIA. Killed in action when working with a Stock Theft Unit, Op Repulse area. His private funeral took place in the Bikita district on 27 June.
1979 – Guard Moses MUSARURWA, 5 Group, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, Mrewa, died on active service.
1980 – Inspector Robin John RIDLEY, Uniform BSAP, killed on active service. Died aged 34 in a vehicle accident in Salisbury.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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