On 10 July, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
10 Jul 1953: Quartermaster Pieter Cornelius Johannes Wampach from the School of Artillery and Armour died in 1 Military Hospital from head injuries sustained when he slipped on the bathroom floor and struck his head while at the Unit in Potchefstroom. He was 38.
10 Jul 1963: Three members from B Squadron, 2nd Tank Regiment who were stationed at Jan Kempdorp were accidentally killed when their Bedford Troop Carrier stalled on a level crossing and was hit by a train. Ten other members on the vehicle were injured in this incident. The casualties were:
AT19099 Trooper Albert Edward van Wyk. He was 18.
Trooper Horn. He was 18.
Trooper Vermeulen. He was 19.
10 Jul 1978: 75545749BG Rifleman Clifford Spencer Schofield from 7 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle accident, near the Mac-Mac Falls in the Sabie area while travelling as a passenger. He was 18.
10 Jul 1980: 76422344BG Corporal Clive Roland Hardenberg from 4 Reconnaissance Regiment accidentally drowned during a training exercise at Salmander Bay, Langebaan. He was 20.
10 Jul 1981: 77223030BG Rifleman Lionel van Rooyen from 1 South African Infantry attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group died from multiple shrapnel wounds accidentally sustained when four 120mm High Explosive Mortar Bombs landed on the incorrect target where B Company Troops were located during a live fire training exercise between Tsintsabis and Omuthiya, prior to the launch of Ops Protea. Fourteen others were seriously injured in this incident. He was 19.
10 Jul 1982: Two members from 42 Squadron were flying over an Army column near Ondangwa in their Aermacchi AM-3C Bosbok, Serial No. 950 when the Pilot in Command elected to execute an unauthorised stall turn at low level for the benefit of the troops on the ground. The aircraft failed to recover and crashed nearby, killing both crew members on board. The casualties were:
73260788PE Lieutenant Otto Carel Janse van Rensburg (Pilot in Command). He was 24.
78275658PE Candidate Officer Anton Geno Roux. He was 20.
10 Jul 1982: 74265059BG Rifleman Martin William van der Post from 2 Parachute Battalion was shot dead by a Railway Policeman when he was found trespassing in a prohibited area on Railway property. He was 23.
10 Jul 1985: 81539702PB Corporal A.L. Teffo from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment was killed instantly after being struck by lightning during a thunderstorm while on operations in Southern Angola. He was 24.
10 Jul 1986: 84919240SWH Rifleman R Tjiposa from 102 Battalion SWATF was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned in Northern Owamboland. He was 25.
10 Jul 1986: Special Constable Tjiposa Virero from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 29.
10 Jul 1998: 93746006 Rifleman Jabulani Senzo Ndlovu from 121 Battalion was killed in a military motor vehicle accident at Ncotshane. He was on official leave at the time but went back to the base, stole a military vehicle and went to a Tavern. While driving back to the Base, he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn. He was 27.
10 Jul 2000: 84444884PE Major Pieter Lourens van As from 7 SAI was killed in a shooting incident at the Base in Phalaborwa. He was 31.
10 Jul 2007: 87475950PE Staff Sergeant Deon Marthinus van Rensburg from 2 Field Engineer Regiment collapsed after suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 36.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten