On 29 July, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Final Roll Call.
29 Jul 1965: 64208713 Private Petrus Frederick Johannes Kruger from the Army Service Corps died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained while at Brits. He was 18.
29 Jul 1966: 05494299E Sergeant Johannes Petrus Herbst from the South African Medical Corps and serving on the 1 Military Hospital staff, died at his home after suffering an aneurysm. He was 38.
29 Jul 1969: 68010198R 2/Lieutenant Andrew le Roux from 8 Squadron was killed when his AT-6 Harvard, Serial No. 7457 crashed into the Rustfontein Dam near Thaba N’chu. The pilot was carrying out an authorised low level tactical reconnaissance exercise when the aircraft descended too low in a turn and the wing made contact with the water causing the aircraft to cartwheel into the dam. He was 23.
29 Jul 1980: 78526522BG Trooper Jonathan Robert Meerholz from 2 Special Service Battalion was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Zeerust while off duty. He was 18.
29 Jul 1980: 72370133BG Sapper Hans Wolfgang Pfeffer from the South African Engineer Corps died in 1 Military Hospital after contracting cerebral meningitis while serving in the Operational Area. He was 24.
29 Jul 1982: 79500765BG Rifleman Johan Wilhelm Christiaan Scheepers from 5 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle accident when his vehicle overturned while participating in a road race in Ladysmith. He was 18.
29 Jul 1983: 80430077BG Rifleman Andre Jordaan from 3 SAI was Killed in Action in a landmine explosion in Northern Owamboland. He was 19.
29 Jul 1986: 85519940BG Rifleman Martin Johannes Botes from 2 SAI was killed while standing guard duty at the Selelekela High School in Soweto when a fellow guard accidentally dropped his loaded rifle and a shot went off, hitting Martin in the head. He was rushed to the Baragwanath Hospital before being airlifted to 1 Military Hospital but succumbed to his injuries a short while later. He was 19.
29 Jul 1986: 84609601BG Lance Corporal Marc la Patourel from 6 SAI was killed in a private motor cycle accident in Benoni. He was 21.
29 Jul 1988: 76926591SP Sergeant Zacharias Eduardo from 32 Battalion was killed in a military vehicle accident at Rundu. He was 35.
29 Jul 1991: 76238054PE Major Wilfred de Koker from 1 Reconnaissance Regiment was accidentally killed when his parachute malfunctioned during a night parachute training exercise at the Hells Gate Training Area. He was 32.
29 Jul 1998: 94842838 Rifleman B P Ngwenya from 21 Battalion died of disease at Nyanga. He was 33.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten