03 October, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
03 Oct 1977: 64120561BT Rifleman Michiel Daniel Johannes Mentz from the 2nd Battalion Regiment Bloemspruit was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near the Cut-line in Northern Owamboland. He was 31.
03 Oct 1977: 75351940BC Signaler Michael David Bosch from the South African Corps of Signals was killed in a military vehicle accident near Pretoria. He was 18.
03 Oct 1977: 76501469BG Rifleman Gary John Fisher from the Army Ordnance Corps died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head while he was stationed at Messina. He was 21.
03 Oct 1979: 67280305PM Captain (Navigator) Johannes Jacobus Strydom from 24 Squadron SAAF, attached to 5 Squadron Rhodesian Air Force, was Killed in Action together with his Rhodesian Air Force Pilot, Air Lieutenant Kevin Peinke when their Canberra, Serial No. 5203 was shot down by enemy Anti-Aircraft Fire while attacking enemy targets near Chimoio in Mozambique during Operation Miracle. He was 28.
03 Oct 1984: 82845900SCK Trooper I. Unkongo from 202 Battalion SWATF was killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Southern Angola. He was 20.
03 Oct 1987: 81200826PE Sub Lieutenant (Diver Officer) Gavin John Sholto Douglas from the Strikecraft SAS P.W. Botha was accidentally drowned during the 1987 floods in Natal. He was part of a Navy boat crew involved in the rescue of civilians along the Umgeni River and it was during one of these rescues that a section of the Umgeni River bank collapsed causing a large wave of rubble, trees and debris to cascade down the river that overturned his boat, trapping him underneath. He unfortunately drowned before he could be rescued from under all the mud and debris. He was 22.
03 Oct 1987: 84340157BG 2/Lieutenant Adriaan Hodgson Hind from “C” Squadron 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was Killed in Action during Ops Modular when his Ratel 90 was hit by a 100mm round fired from a Russian T-55 tank. The projectile skipped off the muddy ground before striking and penetrating the Ratel turret, killing him instantly and wounding his Gunner and Driver. He was 19.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.