22 August, let us pause for a minute to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
22 Aug 1971: Flying Officer (Pilot) Barrington John Heard, a South African National serving in the Rhodesian Air Force and based at Thornhill Barracks, was accidentally killed after suffering multiple injuries in a motor vehicle accident at Guinea Fowl near Gwelo. He was 23.
22 Aug 1979: 77568707BG Rifleman Barend Gabriel Bester from 1 SAI died of wounds in 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein after being struck in the chest by a piece of shrapnel in an accidental hand grenade explosion at the General De Wet Training Range. He was 19.
22 Aug 1980: Two members from 4 SAI were Killed in Action when their Section was ambushed by SWAPO/PLAN insurgents between Eenhana and Oshigambo whilst sweeping the road for landmines. They were in the 81mm mortar platoon on convoy protection duties between Oshakati and Eenhana at the time. Their group was coming from Eenhana and heading towards Oshigambo.
77507853BG Rifleman Pieter Jacobus De Beer. He was 19.
77487544BG Rifleman Andries Petrus Wiese. He was 19.
22 Aug 1982: 78291812BG 2/Lieutenant Ricardo Peach from 1 Special Service Battalion was accidentally killed in a private motor cycle accident on the Bloemfontein to Maselspoort road. He was 19.
22 Aug 1984: 79416400BG Private Udo Louis Gevers from the South African Intelligence Corps attached to Sector 20 Headquarters, was accidentally killed after suffering multiple injuries when he was apparently thrown out of a moving Buffel Troop Carrier during an altercation with another soldier. He was 20.
22 Aug 1987: Rifleman Marthinus Jacobus Lombard from Infantry School was accidentally killed in a road accident while part of a Military karate team that was on their way to attend a karate tournament in Bloemfontein. The vehicle suffered a flat tyre and while Marthinus was in the process of changing the tyre, he was struck by a passing mini-bus taxi. Suffering from severe head injuries, he was admitted to the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein in critical condition but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries when he suffered cardio-respiratory failure shortly after admission. He was 19.
22 Aug 1998: 90447897 Lieutenant Jacobus .Lodewickus Breet from the South African Infantry Corps was killed in a private vehicle accident in Pretoria West while off duty. He was 23.
22 Aug 2000: 96717301PW Lieutenant Dian Hedley Smith from 85 Combat Flying School, Air Force Base Hoedspruit, was killed when his MB326KM Impala Mk II, Serial No.1089 crashed during a routing night training exercise at Air Force Base Hoedspruit. The aircraft canopy opened in flight after an approach and go-around causing the aircraft to instantly start rolling into a semi inverted position. Without sufficient height he could not recover the aircraft and was unable to eject because of the open canopy. He was 25.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.