25 January, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
25 Jan 1952: P1/36594 Lieutenant Warsley Robert Christopher Doyle from the Air Operations School (AOS) Langebaanweg was killed when his Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXE, Serial No. 5503 developed engine trouble during close formation drills and crashed while he was attempting to execute a forced landing near Tulbagh. He was 29.
25 Jan 1980: One civilian member of the public was killed and one later died of wounds in hospital after three MK Operatives, Stephen Mafoko, Humphrey Makhubo and Wilfred Madela entered the Volkskas Bank in Silverton (Known as the Silverton Bank Siege) and took 25 members of Staff and customers hostage. In the ensuing gun battle with Security Police, 5 other civilians were wounded and all three MK Operatives were shot dead. The two civilian casualties who died were:
Mrs Cynthia Valeria Anderson who died on the scene. She was 19.
Mrs Anna Magrieta De Klerk Died of Wounds in Hospital. She was 38 (She was the wife of Station Commander Major De Klerk of the SAP Villeria).
25 Jan 1981: Rifleman Stephen Stuart Whittaker from 3 SAI was Reported Missing while hitch hiking back to his Unit in Potchefstroom after spending his leave pass at the family home in Kenilworth, Cape Town. He was picked up by a motorist, Mr Pieter Du Plessis and they stopped at the Laingsburg Bridge for a travel break. Unfortunately, it was that time when the River came down in flood and they were both washed away. Their bodies were never located and they remain unaccounted for. For administrative purposes, both men were officially declared dead by Judge C.F.W. van Zyl on 03 June 1981. He was 18. Their names are perpetuated on the Memorial Plate in the Laingsburg Flood Museum.
25 Jan 1981: Two members from the Air Force Gymnasium died while busy with musketry training at Haakdoringlaagte outside Pretoria. 75221176PE Lance Corporal Johannes Jacobus Burger from the Air Force Gymnasium accidentally shot and killed his friend 76411636BG Lance Corporal Patrick Louis Walsh (20) as a result of an accidental discharge of his R1 rifle. Stricken with grief, he took his own life shortly afterwards using the same R1 rifle. He was 21.
25 Jan 1983: Two members from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) were Killed in Action during a Contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. They were:
Special Constable T. Matais. He was 33.
Special Constable K. Tjiumbua. He was 31.
25 Jan 1987: Four members from 101 Battalion SWATF were Killed in Action during a fierce engagement with SWAPO/PLAN and FAPLA forces in Southern Angola. During the attack on Mongua, a mortar bomb landed on their position, killing them instantly. They were:
Sergeant Johan Martin. He was 35.
Corporal H Alugodhi. He was 24.
Rifleman W Shitongeni. He was 26.
Rifleman G Shilulu. He was 23.
25 Jan 1988: 85355840BG Airman John Hendri Flemming from the Air Force Gymnasium collapsed and died after experiencing respiratory and heart failure during physical training exercises at the Air Force Gymnasium. He was 18.
25 Jan 1998: 91092171 Leading Seaman Carlo Alexander from the Naval Base Simonstown Protection Branch died of cancer in 2 Military Hospital. He was 27.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.