11 November, let us pause to remember these young men from all generations who answered the sunset call.
11 Nov 1980: 77461697BG Rifleman Richard Paul Baillie from 6 SAI died in 1 Military Hospital after being critically injured in a private motor vehicle accident on 03 November 1980 when his vehicle overturned between Queenstown and Sterkstroom. He succumbed to his injuries on 11 November 1980. He was 19.
11 Nov 1982: 78344082PE Corporal Jan Adriaan Ackermann from the Technical Services Corps Training Centre was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Johannesburg while on official leave. He was 20.
11 Nov 1986: Two members from 8 SAI were killed when their military vehicle was involved in an accident at Prieska. They were:
82526260BG Corporal Nicolaas Ernst Pattenden. He was 20.
83500538BG Rifleman David John Fowler. He was 19.
11 Nov 1986: 84484683BG Private Johannes Hendrik Snyman from North West Command was accidentally killed at Vryburg after being crushed between a military vehicle and a trailer. He was 18.
11 Nov 1987: Two members from 4 SAI attached to 62 Mechanised Battalion Group were Killed in Action by hostile small-arms fire while attacking and clearing enemy trench and bunker systems in South Eastern Angola during Ops Modular. They were:
83499764BG Rifleman Daniel Willem Hendrik van Zyl. He was 20.
84422872BG Rifleman John Mark Howes. He was 19.
11 Nov 1987: Three members from 32 Battalion were Killed in Action in Southern Angola during Ops modular when they sustained multiple shrapnel wounds as a result of FAPLA mortar fire while riding on top of an Olifant tank. The casualties were:
83717843SP Rifleman Ernest Ndala Kapepura. He was 25.
81525891SP Rifleman Gabriel Dala. He was 26. (Listed on the 32 Bn Memorial as C. Dala)
87715314SP Rifleman Fernando Mauricio. He was 24.
11 Nov 1987: One member from 4 SAI was Killed in Action and another member from 4 SAI Died of Wounds during an attack on the FAPLA 16 Brigade Tactical Group South of the Chambinga River during Ops Modular. Their 4 SAI Ratel 20, Callsign 12C, whose Gunner, Rifleman Marius Johannes Mitton, had just successfully knocked out a Soviet T-54 tank with the 20mm cannon when their Ratel received a direct in the drivers compartment from a Soviet 100mm High Explosive tank shell. Schutte, the Driver was killed instantly but not knowing this, the critically wounded Mitton rotated the turret to a position to enable Schutte to get out of his hatch before he himself vacated the turret of the burning Ratel. Mitton was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria but succumbed to his wounds on 25 November 1987. The two casualties were:
83504696BG Rifleman Pieter Marthinus Schutte. He was 20.
83496166BG Rifleman Marius Johannes Mitton. He was 20. (Died of Wounds on 25.11.1987)
(NOTE): Both members were recommended for the posthumous award of the Honoris Crux for their unflinching Gallantry in the face of extreme danger and overwhelming odds but it appears that their HC Decoration recommendations were not approved by Higher Authority.
11 Nov 1998: 92665512 Rifleman P.P. Mabjana from 111 Battalion died of disease in the Pietersburg Hospital. He was 37.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.