Today, 8 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
08 Jun 1976: 73448136BA Corporal Hendrik Josias Stephanus Coetzee from 4 Maintenance Unit was killed in a military vehicle accident at Wenela Base in the East Caprivi. He was 19.
08 Jun 1979: 74412909BA Rifleman Johannes Leonardus Truter from 8 SAI was attached to 35 Battalion SWATF in the Mortar Section. He was critically wounded in the head when his Temporary Base near Beacon 6 was attacked by SWAPO/PLAN insurgents at first light on 4 February 1979. He was struck just above the left eye by a bullet from a Soviet RPD light machine-gun that penetrated through a sandbag. Evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, this serious head wound left him completely paralysed and he remained in intensive care in 1 Military Hospital until he succumbed to his wounds on 8 June 1979. He was 19.
08 Jun 1981: 75405548BG 2/Lieutenant Duncan Frederick Lahner from 32 Battalion was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Buffalo Base. He was 21.
08 Jun 1984: Two members from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment were Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola.
- Corporal D. Shiningivali. He was 24
- Lance Corporal K. Awino. He was 22.
8 Jun 1985: 83895311SWH Rifleman Izaskar Kariko from 911 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near the Cut-line. He was 22.
08 Jun 1987: 83241737BG Corporal Jacques Barand Zaayman from 1 SAI was killed on the Maselspoort to Glen Road outside Bloemfontein when his Ratel overturned while he was instructing a pupil in driving skills. He was 19.
08 Jun 1988: 01488386PE Colonel Andre Bekker from the South African Air Force was killed when his civilian Christen Husky aircraft, Registration ZS-LXM crashed at Wonderboom Airport during a routine training flight. He was 46.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1970 – Trooper Robin Rex ASHMEAD, Signals Depot, 1st Battalion, RLI, killed on active service. Died in a vehicle accident on the Salisbury/Umtali road. He was 21 years old and is buried in Umtali.
1974 – Lance Corporal Kenneth Richard SMITH, C Squadron, SAS. KIA. Killed as a result of an AP mine explosion. Having lost a leg at the time of the explosion, whilst on an external operation near Chimoio, Mozambique, Kenneth died from a fatty embolism in the blood stream, in Salisbury Central Hospital, at the age of 23. Buried at Warren Hills, Salisbury.
1975 – Recruit Victor William WRIGHT, 1st Battalion, RLI, killed on active service. Died of a gunshot wound to the head in an accidental shooting at the Beatrice Rifle Range, aged 16. Cremated at Warren Hills, Salisbury.
1978 – Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Victor "Nobby" CLARK, B Troop, 1 Field Regiment, Rhodesian Artillery, died on active service. Died of natural causes.
1979 – Private Rodrick MASENDEKE, HQ, 2 Brigade, KIA. Died of gunshot wounds in a CT action.
1979 – Private Casper SIBANDA, HQ, 2 Brigade, KIA. Died of gunshot wounds in a CT action.
1979 – Lance Corporal Cletos TAKUNDWA, HQ, 2 Brigade, KIA. Died of gunshot wounds in a CT action
1979 – Private I. VENGESA, HQ, 2 Brigade, KIA. Died of gunshot wounds in a CT action
1979 – Recruit Raphael S. SIBANDA, Depot RAR, died on active service. Aged 17, buried in Lady Stanley Cemetery, Bulawayo.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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