10 August, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Final Roll Call.
10 Aug 1957: P/19313 Corporal Charles Wilhelmus Johnson from the Union Defence Force Headquarters died at Walker Street in Sunnyside, Pretoria as a result of Broncho Pneumonia and heart complications. He was 37.
10 Aug 1959: P/21413 Commandant Caspar Hendrik Badenhorst from the Administrative Service Corps died after suffering a fatal heart attack at his home in Pretoria. He was 50.
10 Aug 1964: Air Corporal Robert Collen Gernandt from the School of Technical Training accidentally suffocated in Pretoria. He was 26.
10 Aug 1973: 65942179E Leading Seaman Hendrik van der Merwe from SAS Protea was killed at Bredasdorp when his Land Rover vehicle overturned after he lost control while driving on a section of road that was under construction. He was 27. His passenger, 68091503N Leading Seaman Ivan William Kearns, also from SAS Protea, was critically injured in this accident and succumbed to his injuries in hospital on 15 August 1973.
10 Aug 1978: Two members from 5 SAI attached to "B" Company, 2nd Platoon, 54 Battalion, were killed near Nkongo after suffering shrapnel wounds in an accidental R103 Rifle Grenade explosion. The Patrol were being picked up by a Buffel Troop Carrier and during the process of boarding the vehicle, one of the troops stumbled and accidentally discharged his rifle which had a R103 Rifle Grenade attached to the barrel. The rifle grenade travelled approximately 3m and struck Lance Corporal Viljoen in the chest, killing him instantly. Rifleman Le Roux, who was just behind him, waiting to board the vehicle was mortally wounded after suffering a punctured lung and died within minutes. Two men were wounded, one seriously but they both survived. The casualties in this incident were:
71251615BG Lance Corporal Karl Paul Viljoen. He was 22.
75525477BG Rifleman Johannes Gerber le Roux. He was 18.
10 Aug 1982: 2/Lieutenant Lambertus Johannes Lategan from the Danie Theron Combat School was attached to 53 Battalion at Ruacana. One day, he complained about severe stomach pains and was taken to the Hospital at Oshakati. The symptoms did not go away and his health continued to deteriorate so he was evacuated from the Operational Area and admitted to 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein where he underwent immediate surgery for a ruptured appendix. It was found that his appendix had ruptured a week prior to him being admitted to 3 Military Hospital and unfortunately, he died shortly after undergoing surgery. He was 20.
10 Aug 1985: 82200866BG Rifleman Dirk Leonardus Broodryk from 2 SWA SPES, SWATF died in a non-military related incident in Pretoria. He was 20.
10 Aug 1985: Two members from Sector 30 SWATF were killed when their Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Welinitschia. The casualties were:
81093804BG Corporal Albert Johan Kotze. He was 19.
80298391BG Rifleman Johannes Frederik Louw. He was 20.
10 Aug 1992: 84393891 Pioneer Willem Jacobus Smit from 47 Survey Squadron was killed after being struck by a private motor vehicle while jogging near the Fountains Circle in Pretoria. He was 23.
10 Aug 1998: Five members from the South African Army were killed when the private Taxi in which they were travelling as passengers, overturned at Estcourt, The casualties were:
95082837PY Corporal M P Bhengu from 21 Battalion. He was 27.
95060885 Gunner Z B Kewane from 4 Artillery Regiment. He was 23.
95654620PE Gunner Blessing Sbusiso Lushaba from 4 Artillery Regiment. He was 23• 95650693 Gunner S I Sisoka from 4 Artillery Regiment. He was 22.
97285167 Gunner N E Mkhize from 4 Artillery Regiment. He was 19.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten