On 29 June, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
29 June 1930: 405 Air Apprentice John Cadogan Aubrey Pritchard from the School of Technical Training was killed in a private motor cycle accident in Pretoria. He was 24.
29 Jun 1950: MPO144353 Warrant Officer Class I Nicholaas Albertus Linde from 1 Field Regiment was boarded as medically unfit due to ailments contracted during active service. He subsequently suffered a heart attack and died in 1 Military Hospital. He was 60.
29 Jun 1965: PX/23859 Lieutenant Lourens Benjamin Schlesinger from 1 Squadron was killed near Louis Trichardt when his Canadair CL13B Sabre, Serial No. 360 suffered a suspected bird strike. He failed to eject from the aircraft before it struck the ground where it exploded on impact. He was 24.
29 Jun 1965: PX/50440 Captain Peter Maxwell from Central Flying School Dunnottar was killed instantly when his AT-6 Harvard, Serial No. 7719 crashed at Potchefstroom Airfield after the left wing of the aircraft struck the ground while he attempted to execute an unauthorised roll at low level. He was 42. (He also served with 2 Squadron SAAF in the Korean War 1950-53).
29 Jun 1977: 79230114HK Rifleman M. Makehe from 34 Battalion (Later 202 Battalion SWATF) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 22.
29 Jun 1982: 75450353PE Lance Corporal Jacobus Johannes Gerhardus van Staden from 61 Base Workshops was accidentally killed when he was crushed between two military vehicles during a vehicle recovery operation at Tsumeb. He was 22.
29 Jun 1985: 85854966SW Rifleman H. Andreas from 101 Battalion SWATF died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained while he was stationed at Ondangwa in Northern Owamboland. He was 23.
29 June 1988: 85358893BG Rifleman Christiaan Fick from 1 SAI was critically injured in a private motor vehicle accident while travelling as a passenger. He was returning to the Army Battle School after being on a 10-day leave pass. He succumbed to his injuries in the Kimberley Hospital later the same day. He was 19.
29 Jun 1991: 80153331HB Pioneer Frank Sinki Motshegwa from Northern Transvaal Command Headquarters Unit was killed hit and run accident after being struck by a civilian motor vehicle in Proes Street, Pretoria. He was 35.
29 Jun 1996: 94677911 Rifleman S. T. Zuma from Army Headquarters was killed in a military motor vehicle accident at Mabalingwe. The trip was unauthorised and he had left the Base without permission. He was 25.
29 Jun 1998: 90722612 Corporal Mario Shuete from 8 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Cambell. He was 31.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.