18 September, let us pause for a minute to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
18 Sep 1969: 67929885N Rifleman Collin Arthur Williams from 4 SAI died from lung complications after participating in an unauthorised CS gas training exercise held at the training grounds in Doornkop. He was 18.
18 Sep 1970: 68408459N Private Abraham Jacobus Goosen from 1 Air Depot was accidentally killed in a crane accident at Voortrekkerhoogte. He was 17.
18 Sep 1973: 72548431N Rifleman Terence Arthur Langley from 3 SAI died from a gunshot wound accidentally self-inflicted while he was stationed at Rundu. He was 18.
18 Sep 1979: 76334911BG Corporal Andries Petrus Hanneman from Northern Transvaal Command was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident at Potgietersrus. He was 19.
18 Sep 1981: 79558441BG Rifleman Petrus Jacobus van Staden from 1 Parachute Battalion was killed in a private motor cycle accident on the Bloemfontein to Winburg Road. He was 18.
18 Sep 1981: 74296518BT Corporal Johannes Jacobus van Staden from the Transvaal Scottish died in a private motor vehicle accident. He was 23.
18 Sep 1986: 82244443BG Airman Hendrik Frensch van Zyl from the Air Force Base Hoedspruit Fire Section was found murdered by persons unknown at Linbro Park, near the Alexandra Township in Johannesburg. He had a knife wound to the neck. He was due to return back to Base from a 7-Day Pass at the time of the murder. He was 20.
18 Sep 1988: 84464296BG 2/Lieutenant Petrus Gerhardus Lourens Koen from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was critically injured on 16 September 1988 when his Ratel overturned while traveling between Ogongo and Okalongo in Northern Owamboland. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he succumbed to his injuries on 18 September 1988. He was 19.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.