15 December, let us pause to remember the following young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
15 Dec 1953: Air Cadet Wilfred Rudolf Spies from 1 Squadron was killed when his Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXE 5637 crashed near the Wonderboom Airfield. He was 20.
15 Dec 1958: Chaplain Kelsey Leonard Hall from Army Headquarters suffered a fatal heart attack at his home in Pretoria. He was 55.
15 Dec 1964: Private Johannes Massyn from the Army Service Corps died in Pretoria as a result of heart failure caused by bacterial endocarditis. He was 24.
15 Dec 1976: 76927144SP Rifleman Manuel Samba from 32 Battalion was killed in an accidental mortar bomb explosion at Rundu. He was 25.
15 Dec 1976: 69257459BT Corporal Timothy Gilmore Conway from Regiment Algoa Bay was Died of Wounds after being struck in the chest by mortar bomb shrapnel when his Temporary Base, approximately a few hundred meters from the Cut-Line near Oshikango, came under heavy enemy mortar attack from a group of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents using a Soviet 82mm mortar mounted on the back of a truck. Tim was running back to his dugout after going to fetch an Intelligence Corporal from the Mess Tent. On the way back to the trench, the Corporal tripped and fell at the exact moment that an 82mm Soviet mortar bomb landed and exploded approximately 10m from them. He was casevaced by Helicopter to the Base Surgical Hospital at Air Force Base Ondangwa but unfortunately succumbed to his wounds and was certified dead on arrival. He was 23. From the platoon Observation Post, Corporal Wiggell from the Technical Service Corps, had seen the truck lights and had climbed down the large tree in order to inform the mortar guys of the truck's position. He was on his way back to his post when at approximately 22h00, SWAPO opened fire. Corporal Wiggell, now back up the tree, opened fire on the trucks position with his FN MAG and SWAPO returned fire with a 12,7mm heavy machine gun. The platoon had in the meantime launched 36 x 60mm HE bombs onto the SWAPO position and the truck received a direct hit. Corporal Wiggell had no protection from enemy incoming fire while up in the tree. The tree was completely shredded by the incoming enemy fire but miraculously, he came away from the contact without a scratch. Corporal Wiggell was awarded the Honoris Crux for his Gallant actions and promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
15 Dec 1977: 74520818BA Rifleman Machiel Jacobus van den Berg from Regiment Louw Wepener was killed in a private motor vehicle accident on the Eldorado road in the Vrede District, Orange Free State. He was 19.
15 Dec 1978: 72570344BT Corporal Thomas Davis from 2 Parachute Regiment was Killed in Action on 15 December 1978 when his patrol inadvertently walked into the ambush site of a Stopper Group. Two other members of the Patrol were seriously wounded. He was 24.
15 Dec 1979: 77347151BG Rifleman Walter Donald O'Connor from 11 Commando Regiment was killed while on a weekend pass when he was struck by a passing civilian motor vehicle while walking on the pavement. He was 18.
15 Dec 1980: Rifleman Anthony Uytenbogaardt from 1 SAI was killed when his private motor vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle 30km from Bloemfontein while returning from Cape Town after being on pass. He was due to Clear Out from the Unit three days later. He was 19.
15 Dec 1980: 76900596SP Rifleman K Masate from 32 Battalion was found dead at Omauni with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head using his R1 rifle. He was 32.
15 Dec 1982: 66322827KV Candidate Officer Gregor Charles Kohler from 107 Air Commando Squadron was killed when his private aircraft crashed approximately 5.5km South of the John Vorster Airport, Kimberley. He was 32.
15 Dec 1984: Two members from 1 SWA Engineer Regiment SWATF were killed when their Buffel Troop Carrier overturned in Northern Owamboland. They were:
83800156SCC Sapper Gerhardus Johannes Bock. He was 18.
83814640SCC Sapper Johannes Petrus Isaacs. He was 18.
15 Dec 1991: 87459913BG Rifleman Phillip John Earnshaw from 4 SAI was killed while on a weekend pass when his private motor vehicle was involved in a collision with a truck in Middelburg. He was 23.
15 Dec 1998: 95081048 Rifleman J M Magolego from 21 Battalion was shot dead by persons unknown in Tembisa. He was 25.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.