18 November, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
18 Nov 1962: P/22770 Corporal Johannes George Wolmarans from 1 Parachute Battalion was admitted to 1 Military Hospital after being diagnosed with myocarditis. He died later in hospital after suffering heart failure. He was 19.
18 Nov 1971: 67398719N 2/Lieutenant Douglas Angus Morrison from the School of Engineers was accidentally electrocuted while serving at Kroonstad. He was 20.
18 Nov 1976: PR106691 Rifleman Albertus Johannes Ferreira, a South African National serving with the 5th Independent Company, Rhodesia Regiment, was Killed in Action after suffering multiple gunshot wounds in a contact with insurgents near Silver Streams during Operation Thrasher. He was 19.
18 Nov 1984: 79989865BG Leading Marine Sydney Harry de Jongh from 111 Harbour Protection Unit, South African Marines accidentally drowned in a river mishap while based at Wenela in the Eastern Caprivi. He was 28.
18 Nov 1989: 85480184BG Rifleman Robert Antonio Gache from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned 50 km north of Okahandja. He was 20.
18 Nov 1999: Two members from 5 SAI were killed when their Samil 50 overturned and caught fire at Melmoth. The casualties were:
94999174PV Corporal Kenny Lindile Petela. He was 20.
95651964PV Rifleman Lerato Blondie Mbalane. He was 19.
18 Nov 2002. Warrant Officer Class 1 Piet Breytenbach from Air Force Base Louis Trichardt (now AFB Makhado) was killed in an accidental explosion during range clearing operations at the Roodewal Bombing Range just north of Pietersburg. He inadvertently disturbed an unexploded 30mm DEFA Cannon High Explosive projectile that exploded as soon as he picked it up. He was 46.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.