20 September, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
20 Sep 1950: 2760 Warrant Officer Class I Leslie George Stephanus Berry from the Administrative Services Corps suffered a heart attack and died in 1 Military Hospital. He was 54.
20 Sep 1956: Private Albert Nel from the Army Gymnasium suffered critical head injuries and cranial bleeding after being knocked down by a civilian motor vehicle. He was rushed to 1 Military Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission. He was 18.
20 Sep 1969: 67350447 Private Christiaan Hendrik Stephanus Barnard from the Army Gymnasium was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Johannesburg. He was 19.
20 Sep 1979: Rifleman S. Shangweni from 101 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 24.
20 Sep 1981: Two members from 4 SAI were Killed in Action in Southern Angola when their Buffel troop carrier with 11 troops on board, detonated a landmine. The troops seated on the one side were all strapped into their seats while the 6 troops on the other side were not. The force of the explosion flipped over the vehicle, throwing out those who were not strapped in. Unfortunately, the vehicle landed on two of them, killing them instantly. The casualties were:
79465456BG Rifleman Roderick James Leonard MacIntosh. He was 18.
77507325BG Rifleman Edward Daniel van Rooyen. He was 20.
20 Sep 1981: 79101317PC Able Seaman Donald Theodore Arendse from SAS Protea was killed in a private motorcycle accident on the corner of Boyes Road and Main Road, Lakeside, Cape Town. He was 26.
20 Sep 1981: 08182172KV Corporal Stephanus Johannes Botha from the Outjo Commando SWATF died in the Windhoek State Hospital as a result of abdominal bleeding. He was 53.
20 Sep 1985: 83885715SHW Rifleman David Tjiraso from102 Battalion SWATF took his own life while on official vacation leave. He was 24.
20 Sep 1987: 85212520BG Rifleman (Gunner) William George Beukman from 4 SAI, attached to 62 Mechanised Battalion Group was grievously wounded in Action near the Lomba River during Ops Modular when a 155mm G-5 High Explosive shell exploded in the breach of the gun, shattering the barrel and blowing out the breach block. It appears that the gun barrel was left with a half burnt charge inside and another projectile was rammed in that did not seat properly because of the debris already in the barrel. Despite the desperate attempts by Medics to save his life, he died from his wounds a short while later. He was 19. Another four members of the gun team were also severely wounded, losing limbs and being grievously burned when the shell exploded.
20 Sep 1991: William Davids, a Civilian private security guard was shot and killed by three APLA operatives during a cash-in-transit robbery at Cleveland, Johannesburg. He was 27. The three APLA operatives responsible for this attack were later granted amnesty for this deed.
20 Sep 1991: 88255971BG Gunner Johannes Lodewicus Lombard De Beer from 4 Artillery Regiment was found dead at 10 Artillery Brigade in Potchefstroom with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head using his R4 rifle. He was 18.
20 Sep 1993: 83719336HG Lance Corporal Bengu Jerico Madela from 121 Battalion fell ill while on duty and was taken to Wentworth Hospital where he died as a result of a brain haemorrhage. He was 35.
20 Sep 1994: 94072055AY Rifleman Mokoroberwa Aaron Gumbi from 21 Battalion was critically wounded after being shot be a member of the South African Police at the Sharpeville Police Station after he entered the charge office and created a disturbance and breaking a window. Although a warning shot was fired, he became more violent whereupon he was shot. He was taken to the Vereeniging Hospital where he unfortunately Died of Wounds. He was 26.
20 Sep 1998: 75419085PE Lieutenant Colonel Petrus Johannes Labuschagne from Air Force Headquarters died from cancer in 1 Military Hospital. He was 39.
20 Sep 1998: 94727211 Lieutenant R K Modisakeng from the Intelligence School died of disease at the Paul Kruger Hospital in Rustenburg. He was 31.
20 Sep 1998: 92088418 Rifleman S W Moemi from the South African Army died of disease in Schweizer-Reneke, He was 43.
20 Sep 1999: 90716267PE Rifleman Lucky Lancaster Themba Mthembu from Group 9 was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at St. Anne’s Mess where he was standing guard duty. He was 31.
Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten.