11 May , let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
11 May 1948: P11025 Trooper Daniel Jacobus Fourie from 1 Special Service Battalion died in 1 Military Hospital after suffering heart failure caused by Rheumatic Fever. He was 17.
11 May 1959: Second Lieutenant Charles Walter Myburgh from Air Force Station Waterkloof Station Fight was killed while flying Harvard 7702 when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed while he was carrying out unauthorised low level aerobatics over his Fiancés farm near Brits. He was 22.
11 May 1966: 01504919R Lieutenant Ian Pieter Roos from 1 Squadron was killed when his Canadair CL13B Sabre, Serial No. 357 crashed near the Voortrekker Monument while carrying out practice runs with Orange, White and Blue Smoke for the upcoming 31 May Republic Day. While still flying at very low level, he started his turn and the aircraft was seen to roll onto its back and fly in to the ground. He was 21.
11 May 1978: 73310047BC Private Pieter Benade from 84 Technical Stores Depot was killed in a military motor vehicle accident at Grahamstown. He was 20.
11 May 1982: 79323440BG Rifleman Jacque Samuaé Du Preez from the Army Intelligence Corps was Killed in Action during an attack on the teachers quarters and Principal’s house at the "Kanjimi Marenga" School, situated near the Police base at Nkurenkuru, West of Rundu. He was serving there as a teacher together with four other National Servicemen and it appears that these two buildings were specifically targeted and attacked by the SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. The Military Base situated 1km away from the school, as well as the School at Tondoro, were also attacked during this raid. Jacque was asleep on his bed when a Soviet F1 hand grenade was lobbed through a window and landed on top of him where it exploded, killing him instantly. He was 19.
11 May 1982: 80871239SC Corporal Don Stoffel Olyn from 911 Battalion SWATF was accidentally killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned during a patrol at Etosha Pan. He was 18.
11 May 1985: 82596321BG Corporal Mark Anthony Pond from 905 Special Service Company was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Odila/Nepara area. During the contact, a wounded insurgent who had crawled under a dead tree trunk opened fire on Mark at a range of approximately 5 metres, mortally wounding him in the chest. Despite every effort made to save him, he succumbed to his wounds before the casevac helicopter arrived. He was 22.
11 May 1986: Four members from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) were Killed in Action when their Casspir Z5-Lima was hit by a Soviet RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket during a fierce action with a group of heavily armed SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. The casualties were:
W89397P Constable Isak Frederik van Zyl. He was 25.
Special Constable Simeon Shindele. He was 25.
Special Constable Simon Toivo. He was 24
Special Constable Frans Godfrey. He was 24
11 May 1998: 96833959 Corporal M A Dithebe from 21 Battalion died from disease in Soweto. He was 22.
11 May 1998: 93745503 Rifleman Jabulani Thulanokwazi Dube from 121 Battalion, died of disease in the Ngwelezane Hospital. He was 24.
11 May 1998: 86725272 Rifleman T J Motlokoa from 21 Battalion died of disease in the Lenz Sickbay. He was 32.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.