Today, 5 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
05 Jun 1978: 74385501BG Corporal Charles Benjamin de Villiers from 1 SAI was killed in a military vehicle accident in Bloemfontein. He was 22.
05 Jun 1984: 82904772SWK Rifleman M. Sipipa from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents. He was 22.
05 Jun 1984: 72294887BT Rifleman Andries Christiaan Jacobs from Regiment Port Natal was killed in a military vehicle accident in Durban. He was 27.
05-Jun 1986: Seven members from 250 Air Defence Artillery Group, South African Air Force were killed in a gruesome private motor vehicle accident in the early hours of the morning while traveling between Pretoria and Hammanskraal. They were returning to the Unit from a weekend sports pass. The accident occurred 25km from Hammanskraal. The casualties were:
- 82416025BG Corporal Michael Christopher Marx. He was 19.
- 82426867BG Airman Deon Phillipus Beukes. He was 19.
- 83511816BG Airman Grant Sinclaire Strange Braithwaite. He was 18.
- 83243725BG Airman Matthys Gideon Britz. He was 19.
- 82471970BG Airman Dawid Lindeque. He was 19.
- 82469602BG Airman Frans Cornelius Moolman. He was 19.
- 82230244BG Airman Marthinus Louis Nel. He was 19.
05 Jun 1987: Two members from Infantry School were killed in a private motor vehicle accident 8km from Vredefort while on weekend pass. They were:
- 84534254BG Rifleman Francois Nel. He was 18.
- 84408020BG Rifleman Pieter van der Linde. He was 18.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1977 – Field Reservist Matthew Charles Thomas "Matt" BROOKS, PATU, BSAP, killed on active service. Killed aged 23 when he was accidentally shot whilst trying to apprehend an absconding suspect in the Fort Victoria area, Op Repulse. His semi-military funeral was held in Salisbury on 9 June.
1978 – Acting Warrant Officer 2 Visaya MAZINYANE, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, died on active service.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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