16 August, let us pause for a minute to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
16 Aug 1938: P1/8871/4 Pupil Pilot Cedric Anders William Lindeberg from Zwartkop Air Base was killed in a private motor cycle accident on Main Reef Road, near Benoni. He was 23.
16 Aug 1979: 76201920BG Rifleman Erasmus Albertus Venter from 4 SAI was killed during Operation Safraan after a fellow soldier picked up an unexploded Impala Aircraft 30mm DEFA High Explosive cannon projectile and between the two of them, attempted to take the shell apart with a Swiss Army knife. During this process, the cannon projectile exploded, killing him instantly. He was 20.
16 Aug 1979: 76900075SP Rifleman Frank Thomas from 32 Battalion died at Buffalo Base from an apparently self-inflicted Gunshot wound to the head. He was 31.
16 Aug 1980: 77473015BG Lance Corporal Hendrik Jacobus van der Walt from 16 Maintenance Unit was killed at Luhebu in South West Africa when the military vehicle he was driving, overturned. He was 18.
16 Aug 1981: Rifleman Ben Jacob from 101 Battalion SWATF was critically wounded on 14 August 1981 during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in the Kaokoveld. He succumbed to his wounds in hospital on 16 August 1981. He was 22.
16 Aug 1982: 79281168BG Rifleman William Edwin van Heerden from 201 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near the Cut-Line. He was 19.
16 Aug 1986: 83066340BW Lance Corporal Andre Hercoll Erasmus from the Cape Regiment was Killed in Action after suffering shrapnel wounds during a SWAPO/PLAN mortar stand-off attack on Ruacana. He was 20.
16 Aug 1986: 83102160KV Candidate Officer Christopher Hugh Snyman from 101 Air Commando Squadron was killed when his private aircraft flew into High Tension wires and crashed near Hoedspruit while on a training flight. He was 37.
16 Aug 1988: 78458197PE Staff Sergeant Gideon van Rooyen from 2 Special Service Battalion was killed instantly when his Armoured Car overturned at the Rooisloot Training Area, crushing him in the turret hatch. He was 26.
16 Aug 1991: 90589953BG Rifleman Mark William Hein from 8 SAI was accidentally shot dead by a fellow soldier who was playing around with his loaded rifle while they were on duty in Tokoza Township. He was 18.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.