17 November, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
17 Nov 1980: 78329216BG Sapper Hendrik Johannes Jacobus Jacobs from 1 Construction Regiment was shot dead by a Sentry on guard duty at Chetto Base in the Caprivi Strip after he entered a restricted area during the night and failed to identify himself after being challenged by the Sentry. He was 18.
17 Nov 1981: 77446250BG Rifleman Gert Johannes de Lange from 4 Vehicle Reserve Park was accidentally killed after suffering shrapnel wounds in an accidental hand grenade explosion at the Maryland Training Base. He was 20.
17 Nov 1986: 76484369BT Corporal James Eric Cooper from Group 46 was accidentally killed when his Buffel Troop carrier overturned at Kwanobuhle. He was 26.
17 Nov 1986: 83885387SWH Rifleman W. Mbandjeue from 102 Battalion SWATF was accidentally killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier that was part of a convoy returning from Operations in Southern Angola overturned. The convoy was traveling from Chitado in Angola to Ruacana along the river. The road was extremely slippery and although all the vehicles were travelling in low gear (approximately 10 to 20 km/h), his vehicle slipped into one of the deep ruts left by the other vehicles and overturned. He was thrown out of the vehicle which landed on top of him, crushing him to death. He was 23.
17 Nov 1987: 83490110BG Lance Corporal Johann Redelinghuys from the South African Medical Corps was attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group during Operation Modular. During late afternoon on 16 November 1987, the Rinkhals vehicle to which he was assigned broke down and the medics (Redelinghuys and the Doctor, 2/Lieutenant Davis) remained with the vehicle until it was recovered by a Withings Combat Recovery Vehicle. While being towed out of the combat zone, the Withings and Rinkhals were both knocked out by a ripple of Soviet 122mm BM-21 rockets. Sergeant Lappies Labuschagne, the driver of the Withings was not injured in the first rocket attack but the Doctor, 2/Lieutenant Davis was slightly wounded and Lance Corporal Redelinghuys was critically wounded in the stomach by rocket shrapnel. A Ratel 90 with its main armament disabled that was immediately behind the two vehicles, reversed out of the killing zone but was abandoned by the driver after hitting a tree stump and becoming stuck. Sergeant Labuschagne abandoned the Withings vehicle and immediately took over as driver of the Ratel 90 which he managed to dislodge from the tree stump. He promptly drove back into the killing zone and rescued Lance Corporal Redelinghuys, 2/Lieutenant Davis and Rifleman Spencer before driving to safety. A T-54 tank that suddenly appeared on the scene was engaged by the Ratels Gunner using the 7,62mm Browning machine gun but fortunately, the tank broke off the engagement without firing. Lance Corporal Redelinghuys was evacuated back to Rundu but sadly succumbed to his wounds in the early hours of 17 November 1987. He was 20. Staff Sergeant Labuschagne was later awarded the Honoris Crux for his exceptional display of gallantry while under constant enemy rocket bombardment.
17 Nov 1988: 85324069BG Private Alwyn Lubbe from 1 Maintenance Unit was accidentally killed when he fell off a moving vehicle while in a convoy that was travelling from Kimberley to Eenhana. He was 19.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.