19 June, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
19 Jun 1968: 65784381N Candidate Officer Alwyn Johannes Botha from Regiment Molopo was killed after suffering multiple injuries when the military Bedford in which he was travelling overturned approximately 14km from Zeerust. He was 18.
19 Jun 1973: 66280983V 2/Lieutenant Hendrik Willem Alberts from 4 Squadron was killed when his Atlas MB326M Impala Mk I, Serial No. 547 crashed near Masito while engaged in Operation Brolly Tree 3, a training exercise being carried out in the Zeerust area. He rolled his aircraft in onto the designated “enemy target” but failed to recover from the dive and the aircraft flew into the ground. He was 23.
19 Jun 1975: 05533419PE Sergeant Daniel Johannes Labuschagne from 19 Squadron SAAF was killed in a military vehicle accident while serving in Rhodesia. He was 30.
19 Jun 1975: 72348725N Gunner Diederick Johannes Vorster from 10 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment was killed after he was accidentally shot in the head by another soldier while they were hunting for small game in the veld. He was stationed at Oshakati at the time of this tragic incident. He was 19.
19 Jun 1976: 72473226BC Corporal Robert Sheppard Gibbon from 1 Special Service Battalion was killed in a military vehicle accident. He was 19.
19 Jun 1979: 66014069PE Warrant Officer Class II Gottlieb Rudolph du Plessis from the Walvis Bay Command Provost Unit suffered a fatal heart attack at Walvis Bay. He was 51.
19 Jun 1979: 74336371PE Private Johannes Hermanus Labuschagne, an Apprentice Aircraft Electrical Fitter from the School of Technical Training suffered a suspected heart attack and died at his mother's house. He was 21
19 Jun 1979: Two members from 8 SAI were killed when their Buffel Troop Carrier overturned near Oshivello while on the Oshivello to Ondangwa road. They were:
76344886BG Rifleman Daniel Johannes Mocke. He was 19
75528372BG Rifleman Gerritt Francois Roos. He was 19
19 Jun 1980: 77367367BG Rifleman Jacobus Frederick van den Bergh from 53 Battalion was Killed in Action when his patrol was ambushed by a group of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near Etale Base. He was 19.
19 Jun 1982: 78388337BG Signaler Pieter Ernst Scholtz from 81 Signal Regiment was killed in a private motor vehicle accident. He was 20.
19 Jun 1985: 81249591BG Private Johannes Philippus Prinsloo from 101 Base Workshops was killed in a military vehicle accident at Bagani. He was 20.
19 Jun 1987: 78414356BG Lance Corporal Gerhardus Christiaan Meyer from the Technical Service Corps was killed in a military vehicle accident at the Army Battle School in Lohatlha. He was 24.
19 Jun 1987: 79521167BT Rifleman Adriaan Gerhardus Riekert from the Brakpan Commando was critically injured when his Buffel Troop Carrier was involved in an accident with a civilian vehicle on the old Davyton Road near Brakpan on 18 June 1987. He was admitted to the Far East Rand Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on 19 June 1987. He was 24.
19 Jun 1987: 87067039CK Rifleman Willem Uithaler from the South African Cape Corps was killed after being struck by a bullet resulting from the accidental discharge of a fellow soldiers rifle at the Touw’s River Training Area. He was 23.
19 Jun 1992: 77015311PE Warrant Officer Class 1 Johannes Jacobus Fourie from 10 Engineer Squadron was critically injured in a military vehicle accident on 15 June 1992. He was admitted to the Pietersburg Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on 19 June 1992. He was 45.
19 Jun 1992: 83739292HD Rifleman Sikheto Frank Shilenge from 7 SAI was killed when he suffered multiple injuries in a military motor vehicle accident at Bungeni near Elim. He was 35.
19 Jun 1996: Flight Sergeant Booi Visser from 68 Air School died if disease in 1 Military Hospital. He was 32.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.