21 January, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
21 Jan 1958: Captain Alewyn Petrus Barnard from 1 Locating Battery, South African Artillery was killed in a private motor vehicle accident between Johannesburg and Potchefstroom. He had been authorised to travel to Potchefstroom using his private transport to attend an official training course. He was 38.
21 Jan 1977: Three members from 3 South African Infantry Battalion, South African Infantry Corps and two members from 13 Maintenance Unit, South African Ordnance Services Corps were killed in a military vehicle accident at Tobias. They were:
73432007BT Lance Corporal Leon Steyn from 13 Maintenance Unit. He was 19.
73533754BT Private Izak Johannes Jacobus de Villiers (13 Maintenance Unit). He was 19.
73241531BC Rifleman Jacobus Marais from 3 SAI. He was 19.
73360778BC Rifleman Joseph Adriaan Opperman (3 SAI). He was 19.
72380348BA Rifleman Ettienne Pieter van der Westhuizen from 3 SAI. He was 20.
21 Jan 1977: 75342402BA Private Stephen Trevor Parvess from 1 Maintenance Unit Collapsed and died from heat exhaustion during Basic Training in Kimberley despite the efforts of the medical team. His death was caused by an inherited medical condition that resulted in his body over heating during a training exercise. His vital organs could not cope with the continuous high body temperatures brought on by the inability of his body to switch from heating to cooling mode. He was 18.
21 Jan 1978: 76271055BA Corporal Andre van den Boogaard from the Equestrian Centre was killed in a military vehicle accident on the Ventersdorp Road near the Dirkie Uys Shooting Range at Potchefstroom. He was 18.
21 Jan 1978: 06317077HC Pioneer Jacobus Bruiners from the Cape Corps Auxiliary Services died from throat cancer in 2 Military Hospital. He was 63.
21 Jan 1979: 72527278PE Sergeant Willem Christoffel Badenhorst from 4 Vehicle Reserve Park was found dead in Hillbrow, Johannesburg with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head using his R4 rifle. He was 22.
21 Jan 1979: 08017063KT Rifleman Diederick Johannes Cloete from the Prieska Commando died from cancer in Prieska. He was 49.
21 Jan 1979: 70506480BG Lieutenant Roger Patton Comley-White from the South West Africa Command Headquarters SWATF was killed in a private motor vehicle accident between Swakopmund and Mile 4 in South West Africa. He was 24.
21 Jan 1981: 68444553BT Sergeant Kevin Kilroy Morgan from the Western Province Command Signal Unit died as a result of injuries sustained in a private motorcycle accident while busy with a 30 day compulsory Camp. He was on his way home from duty when the accident occurred and he succumbed to his injuries en-route to the Woodstock Hospital. He was 28.
21 Jan 1983: 77396752PE Lieutenant Frederick Christiaan van Zyl from 8 SAI accidentally drowned in the Orange River while trying to assist three soldiers who had got into difficulties while swimming. He was 21.
21 Jan 1986: 84918168SWH Rifleman Joshua Isaac Kuvari from 102 Battalion SWATF was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned in Northern Owamboland. He was 20.
21 Jan 1988: 83268367BT Trooper Hermanus Jacobus Nieuwoudt from the Pretoria Regiment contracted Malaria in Southern Angola during Ops modular. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital on 28 December 1987 where he sadly succumbed due to renal failure on 21 January 1988. He was 20.
21 Jan 1992: 75275248PE Commandant Thomas James Barron from Group 11 Headquarters in Dundee was found dead in his office at the Unit with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head using his 9mm service pistol. He was 33.
21 Jan 1996: Three members from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group were killed in a military vehicle accident at Gcalima when their Buffel Troop Carrier overturned. The casualties were:
95245411PV Rifleman Nicolaas Johannes Claasen. He was 21.
93773133PV Rifleman Joel Mokgatle. He was 23.
94812591PE Rifleman Andile Sandi. He was 23.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.