16 November, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
16 Nov 1971: 4081 Flight Lieutenant Alexander Gilbert Roughead, a South African National serving with 5 Squadron Rhodesian Air Force, was killed when his Rhodesian Air Force Canberra B2 Bomber R2510 crashed on Little Matopos Farm, Twentydales Road, Hatfield, Salisbury after one of the main aircraft wings separated in flight. He was 29. His Co-Pilot, 4176 Air Lieutenant Guy Neil Robertson from the Rhodesian Air Force was also killed. He was 25.
16 November 1973: 71220115BA 2/Lieutenant Frederick Carl Mostert from the Army Intelligence Corps died in 1 Military Hospital after being critically injured in a private motor vehicle in Pretoria. He was 19.
16 Nov 1976: 74283789BG Sapper Matthys Phillipus Fourie from 2 Field Engineer Regiment was Killed in Action after suffering fatal shrapnel wounds during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 18.
16 Nov 1976: Two members from 1 SAI were accidentally killed while carrying out driver training near the Knysna-Uniondale Crossroads. Their Ratel pulled off the road between Knysna and Avontuur in order to let civilian vehicle traffic pass but unfortunately, slid into a ditch and overturned, crushing them underneath. The casualties were:
72272495PE Corporal Joseph Edward Flood Ashpole. He was 19.
71323208PE Corporal Andries Johannes Blom. He was 21.
16 Nov 1978: 68344761BT Lance Corporal Johannes Petrus Nel from Regiment Louw Wepener was Killed in Action while attached to 53 Battalion. He was carrying out escort duty from Ondangwa to Oshikango when the Hippo vehicle in which he was traveling, detonated a landmine near Etale at approximately 11h00, killing him instantly. He was 26.
16 Nov 1983: 78460649PE Lieutenant Timothy David Short from 6 Squadron was killed when his Atlas MB326KM Impala Mk II, Serial No. 1083 crashed into the sea 5km off Brighton Beach near Durban while on a training flight. He was 21.
16 Nov 1985: 82401720BG Ordinary Marine Victor Ernest Bastion de Klerk from 123 Harbour Protection Unit, South African Marine Corps was killed during the Cape Riots when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Mitchell's Plain. He was 18.
16 Nov 1987: Two members from 32 Battalion were Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. The casualties were:
78913175SP Staff Sergeant Arsenio Nicolau Domignos Batisda. He was 33.
80831019SP Rifleman Joaquim Pedro. He was 29.
16 Nov 1987: 83218826BG Corporal Jacob Carel van Heerden from 4 SAI was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola during Ops Modular. He was 20.
16 Nov 1990: A civilian male, Mr Fransisco de Sousa was killed and one person wounded when his shop in Westonaria was attacked by an armed APLA operative who was later granted amnesty during 1998.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.