26 May, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
26 May 1965: Captain Cornelius Petrus Johannes van Tonder from Air Force Station Voortrekkerhoogte died of heart failure at his home in Pretoria. He was 46.
26 May 1971: Eleven SAAF members, nine from 21 Squadron and two from 24 Squadron were killed when a formation of three Hawker Siddeley Mercurius HS125 aircraft, Serial Numbers 01; 02; and 03, flew into the side of Devil’s Peak during an aircraft formation practice rehearsal for the Republic Day 10thAnniversary celebrations in Cape Town. The casualties were:
Mercurius 01
01239243E Major (Pilot) Michael Christiaan de Graaff Genis. He was 32.
01556794R Captain (Co-Pilot) Daniel du Plessis Lombard. He was 37.
Mercurius 02
01217140E Commandant (Pilot) Lourens Adrian Francois Henning. He was 40
01240472E Major (Co-Pilot) George Johannes Euvrard. He was 32
01238484E Major Nico Beetge from 24 Squadron (Passenger). He was 31
01520345ECaptain Gerald Nicol Snyman from 24 Squadron (Passenger). He was 27
Mercurius 03
01455849E Major (Pilot) Herwie Herman Albert Cornelius Lamoral. He was 37
01204197E Major (Co-Pilot) Willem Abram Prinsloo. He was 37
05559893ECorporal Reiner Nicolaas Grobler (Passenger). He was 24
65480436E Lance Corporal Eugene Hayes (Passenger). He was 22
65533705E Private Gerhardus Hermanus Wasserman (Passenger). He was 21
26 May 1973: 70252598N Rifleman Jeffrey Gerald Holm from 1 Parachute Battalion was killed in a military vehicle accident, in Eastern Caprivi. Jeffrey was the fifth SADF soldier to Die on Service in the Border War after the SADF took over the Border Area protection duties from the South African Police. He was 19.
26 May 1976: 74803917BA Private Jurie Kruger from the Technical Service Corps was critically injured in a private motor vehicle accident on 21 May 1976. He was admitted to 1 Military Hospital with severe head injuries and unfortunately succumbed to these injuries on 26 May 1976. He was 18.
26 May 1977: 75398638BG Rifleman Charles Henry Janse van Noordwyk from 3 SAI was killed after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds in an accidental hand grenade explosion at Potchefstroom. He was 18.
26 May 1980: 76426964BG Rifleman Johannes Stephanus van der Merwe from Sector 10 Headquarters was killed when he was struck by a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle while stationed at Oshakati. He was 20.
26 May 1983: 82571241BG Corporal Guy Christian Beck from 7 SAI attached to 53 Battalion at Okankolo, returned from a four day patrol on 14 February 1983 and complained of having a sore stomach and showing signs of dehydration. He was airlifted to Sector 10 Sick Bay at Oshakati and found to be suffering from appendicitis. He was operated on later that evening but complications arose during the operation and he lapsed into a coma. He was air-lifted to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria and placed in ICU where sadly, he never regained consciousness. He was 21.
26 May 1986: 85081909CK Rifleman Ivan Conradie from the South African Cape Corps, attached to Sector 10 Headquarters, was accidentally killed at Okanjera while his Buffel Troop Carrier was being refueled. Being the driver, he was sitting on the rear of his vehicle when another Buffel Troop Carrier came around the corner a little too fast and just clipped his vehicle causing him to fall off and land under the wheels of the moving Buffel. He was driven over and died instantly. He was 21.
26 May 1987: 81052813PE Corporal Willem Johannes Gysberg Venter from Northern Transvaal Command Provost Unit was killed in a military motor cycle accident at Cullinan. He was 21.
26 May 1989: 66015249PE Warrant Officer Class 1 Roland Stanley Sheppard from South West Africa Medical Command SWATF was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident while travelling from M'pacha to Tsumeb. He was 50.
26 May 1990: 87407086BG Sapper Dale William Butler from the School of Engineers was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Durban. He was 18.
26 May 1998: 80891682 Private N R Maliavusa from the South African Army was found gassed to death at Mutale. No foul play was suspected. He was 23.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.