24 March, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
24 Mar 1951: Major Hendrik Stephanus van Heerden Schoeman from the South African Armoured Corps died in the Old 1 Military Hospital in Voortrekkerhoogte from complications arising from high blood pressure. He was 34.
24 Mar 1963: Five members of the South African Army were killed when the military vehicle in which they were traveling as passengers, overturned at Voortrekkerhoogte. They were:
AT/27192 Private Jacobus Gerhardus Roos Runkel from 57 Quartermaster & Technical Depot. He was 18.
T/61173 Signaler Ivan Leslie Taylor from 1 Signal Regiment. He was 19.
AT/29217 Signaler Ulrich Andre Mulder from 2 Signal Regiment. He was 18.
AV/12626 Signaler Jacobus Johannes Helberg from 8 Signal Group. He was 17.
AS/16972 Signaler Abraham Lodewicus Botha from 8 Signal Group. He was 20.
24 Mar 1972: 69444685N Private Leon George Muller from the Air Force Gymnasium died from heat exhaustion in 1 Military Hospital. After a day of target shooting at the Skurweberg Shooting Range, the Flight Sergeant in charge of the troops was not satisfied with the results of the shooting so after a punishment session at the range, the recruits had to run back to the Air Force Gymnasium in Valhalla. Some of the troops, including Private Muller collapsed and were picked up by ambulance and taken back to the Sick Bay. Private Muller arrived in critical condition and was taken to 1 Military Hospital where he later succumbed after suffering multiple organ failure. He was 19.
24 Mar 1975: 72357387N Rifleman Peter John van der Walt from 4 SAI died from a gunshot wound that resulted from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle while he was stationed in the Caprivi Strip. He was 18.
24 Mar 1977: XR5153 Sergeant Andrew Chait MLM (P), a South African National serving with C Squadron Rhodesian Special Air Service who Died of Wounds during an SAS attack on a ZANLA and Frelimo Base Camp Facility at Chioco, Tete Province in Moçambique. While he was preparing to receive a hand grenade from one of his team members to lob into an enemy RPD machine gun position, he was shot by an insurgent hiding in a trench and the bullet severed his femoral artery, causing him to bleed out in the Casevac Helicopter. He was 25. Trooper Imre Baka, using the same hand grenade subsequently neutralised the enemy gun position together with the occupants.
24 Mar 1978: 05479779PE Staff Sergeant Abraham Karel Smith from 17 Supply & Transport Depot suffered a heart attack while on duty and was admitted to the Bloemfontein National Hospital where he died not long after admission. He was 59.
24 Mar 1981: 76305036BG Rifleman Philipus Lourens van Tonder from 6 SAI was found hanged in the Bloemfontein Detention Barracks. No foul play was suspected. He was 24.
24 Mar 1982: 76906814SP Rifleman Gringo Jose’ Manuel from 32 Battalion was killed in a military vehicle accident at Buffalo. He was 23.
24 Mar 1985: Rifleman Dewald Peens from 8 SAI died in a shooting incident at the Base. He was 18.
24 Mar 1986: 05483417PE Commandant Charles Vernon Hochapfel from the SWATF Gymnasium attached to 101 Battalion SWATF was critically wounded in a SWAPO/PLAN ambush on 23 March 1986 when a Yugoslavian M60 HEAT Anti-Tank Rifle Grenade struck the vehicle right where he was sitting. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he sadly Died of Wounds later in the day. He was 44.
24 Mar 1998: 84878386 Lance Corporal L.S. Ledwaba from the 111 Battalion died from disease at the Pietersburg Military Base. He was off duty at the time of his death. He was 35.
24 Mar 1998: 91706812PE Rifleman Benedict Kushane Mokoena from 151 Battalion was killed when his military motorcycle collided with cattle while he was patrolling on a farm. He was 27.
24 Mar 1998: 94080058 Rifleman M A Nzimande from the SA Army was killed at Imbali after suffering gunshot wounds inflicted by unknown parties while off duty. He was 23.
24 Mar 1998: 94877347 Rifleman S N Rulumente from the SA Army died of disease in the Leratong Hospital. He was off duty at the time of his death. He was 25.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.