Today, 29 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
29 Jun 1965: PX/23859 Lieutenant Lourens Benjamin Schlesinger from 1 Squadron was killed near Louis Trichardt when his Canadair CL13B Sabre, Serial No. 360 suffered a suspected bird strike. He failed to eject from the aircraft before it struck the ground, exploding on impact. He was 24.
29 Jun 1965: PX/50440 Captain Peter Maxwell from Central Flying School Dunnottar was killed instantly when his AT-6 Harvard, Serial No. 7719 crashed at Potchefstroom Airfield after the left wing of the aircraft struck the ground when he attempted to execute a roll at low level. He was 42. (He was a Veteran of the Korean War 1950-53).
29 Jun 1977: 79230114hk Rifleman M. Makehe from 34 Battalion (Later 202 Battalion) SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 22.
29 Jun 1982: 75450353PE Lance Corporal Jacobus Johannes Gerhardus van Staden from 61 Base Workshops was accidentally killed when he was crushed between two military vehicles during a vehicle recovery operation at Tsumeb. He was 22.
29 Jun 1985: 85854966SW Rifleman H. Andreas from 101 Battalion SWATF died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained while in Northern Owamboland. He was 23.
29 June 1988: 85358893BG Rifleman Christiaan Fick from 1 SAI was critically injured in a private vehicle accident while travelling as a passenger. He was returning to the Army Battle School after being on a 10-day pass that was granted for service during Ops Modular. He succumbed to his injuries in the Kimberley Hospital later in the day. He was 19.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1976 – District Assistant Lazaro KABASA, Regular Intaf, KIA. Killed near Mtoko, Op Hurricane.
1977 – Constable Raphael JECHE, V Troop, Support Unit, BSAP, died on active service. Died suddenly at his home in Buhera whilst on R&R from operational duties. His private funeral service was held at Buhera on 14 July.
1978 – Sergeant Hatikuri Reuben DZOBO, GC, BSAP, killed on active service. Died of injuries received five days earlier in a vehicle accident on the Banket-Raffingora road, at the age of 30. His semi-military funeral took place at Warren Hills Cemetery, Salisbury, on 4 July. Field Reservist Moffat Ebestor was also killed in this accident.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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