18 June, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
18 Jun 1951: 279016 Private Frederick Christoffel Gericke from the South African Medical Corps died in 1 Military Hospital after suffering cardiac failure. He was 62.
18 Jun 1955: Two members from 5 Squadron were killed when Harvard 7304 stalled and crashed near Richards Bay while carrying out unauthorised low level aerobatics. The casualties were:
2/ Lieutenant Ralph Stanley Strachan. He was 25.
P/5461 Air Sergeant Eric Lionel Fordham. He was 38.
18 Jun 1956: Air Mechanic Andries Johannes Swanepoel from the School of Technical Training died in the Pretoria Hospital as a result of a torn aorta sustained in a private motor vehicle accident in Pretoria. He was 29.
18 Jun 1964: Air Mechanic Johannes Jesaja Pienaar from 1 Air Depot died in Pretoria after suffering a fatal heart attack. He was 49.
18 Jun 1975: Two members from Infantry School accidentally drowned at Gamkaskloof. They were:
71350987N Rifleman Gabriel Johannes Erasmus. He was 19.
72472863N Rifleman Gerhard Joshua Franzen. He was 19
18 Jun 1977: 70245238BG Lance Corporal Andries Nicholaas van Kraayenburg from Services School was killed in a private motor vehicle accident on the highway near Snake Valley in Pretoria. He was 22.
18 Jun 1980: 7866 Inspector Robin John Ridley, a South African National serving in the Uniformed Branch of the Rhodesian British South Africa Police, was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Salisbury. He was 34.
18 Jun 1980: 77843279HO Rifleman F. Makweli from 701 Battalion SWATF was killed in a military vehicle accident at M’pacha in the Caprivi Strip. He was 22.
18 Jun 1983: 82571357BG Rifleman Johan Steyn from 3 SAI died from a gunshot wound accidentally self-inflicted while he was stationed at Potchefstroom. He was 18.
18 June 1983: 71426126PE Corporal Ocker Juergen Niemand from the Personnel Service Corps died in the Vanderbijlpark Hospital after suffering a coronary thrombosis. He was 29.
18 Jun 1984: 83890780SWK Rifleman Paulus Hausiku from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 20.
18 Jun 1985: 79428983BG Private Kurt Preuss from the Technical Service Corps was killed when struck by a bullet resulting from the accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle. He was 21.
18 Jun 1985: Special Constable Simeon Simson from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koeviet) was Killed in action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 26.
18 Jun 1987: Five members from 32 Battalion were Killed in Action or Died of Wounds during a contact with enemy forces near Evale in Southern Angola during Operation Radbraak. The casualties were:
78910858SP Corporal Bernard Sokola. He was 34
76902279SP Lance Corporal Joao Vocolo Died of wounds. He was 32
76927979SP Rifleman Joao Goncalves Died of wounds. He was 38.
81521999SP Rifleman Paulus Kapinga was shot dead while trying to bring a Soviet 14.5 x 114mm ZPU-1 Anti-Aircraft Gun into action. He was 32.
84719814SP Rifleman Lituya Ntjamba. He was 29.
18 Jun 1988: Special Warrant Officer Daniel Katapotle from the SWA Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 37.
18 Jun 1991: 88706577BW Private Nicky Anthony Joseph from 71 Motorised Brigade Headquarters was murdered while on his way home after he was thrown off a moving train near the Pentaca College in Bellville South by persons unknown . He was 23.
18 Jun 1992: 89710685HJ Rifleman Andries Lasie Mahlaba from 115 Battalion died from injuries sustained in a military vehicle accident when his Samil 20 between Kwamhlanga and the 115 Battalion Base at Kwandebele. . He was 27.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.