30 January, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
30 Jan 1950: P206376 Lieutenant William Desmond Benjamin Boyes from the Air Operations School (AOS) at Langebaanweg was killed when his Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXE, Serial No. 5606 suffered engine failure and crashed at Tooth Rock Range near Saldanha. He was 28.
30 Jan 1964: Two members from 5 SAI accidentally drowned in a boating accident in the Klip River at Ladysmith. They were:
AT22564 Rifleman Johannes Frederick Kies. He was 19.
AT19453 Rifleman Cornelius Michiel Du Plooy. He was 19.
30 Jan 1981: Two members of 6 Reconnaissance Regiment were Killed in Action and one Reported Missing during a Special Forces Raid on the African National Congress Headquarters in Maputo, Moçambique during Operation Bean Bag. They were:
80022536PP Sergeant Robert Louis Hutchinson. He was 24.
80013444PP Sergeant Ian Suttill. He was 22.
80021017PP Lance Corporal James King Park. He was 21.
NOTE 1: The body of Sergeant Robert Louis Hutchinson was never recovered. He has known grave and remains unaccounted for.
NOTE 2: 6 Reconnaissance Regiment was made up of former Rhodesian Special Air Service personnel and established in Durban. An attempt to integrate this unit into the South African Defence Force was largely unsuccessful and the unit was soon disbanded and the remaining personnel were incorporated into the other Special Forces Regiments.
30 Jan 1983: 82900846SWK Rifleman R.R. Kufuna from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 23.
30 Jan 1990: Rifleman J.A. Maloy HC (P) and another member from the 1st Battalion Cape Corps attached to Group 17 Headquarters Company were deployed in Vereeniging to support the South African Police over the period January to December 1990. While the two members were off duty 30 January 1990, they saw smoke billowing from the 'Sales House' shop in Vereeniging. Both men immediately took a hose from the shop-manager and tried to bring the fire under control. One member noticed that the manager was trying to shepherd panic-stricken customers towards the exit so he told the other member to go and assist the shop manager to evacuate the shoppers. Three civilians were brought to safety but the using the hose was eventually overcome by the smoke and collapsed. Prevented from going back into the shop by the smoke and flames, the other member realised that his friend was not outside and he drew this to the attention of firemen who had arrived on the scene. Unfortunately, by this time, the fire was so intense that the fire brigade were unable to do anything. Both men were later awarded the Honoris Crux, one posthumously for their gallant actions in a situation of extreme danger. He was 23.
30 Jan 1991: 05515754PE Warrant Officer Class I Coenraad Jacobus Groenewald from the Technical Service Corps and stationed at the South African Army College, died of complications following heart surgery in the HF Verwoerd Hospital in Pretoria. He was 45.
30 Jan 1991: 87484028 Private Anthony George Lewis from the Orange Free State Command Maintenance Unit sustained critical head injuries in a private motor vehicle accident while on a weekend pass when after a tyre on his vehicle burst causing the vehicle to overturn. He was casevaced to 1 Military Hospital but shortly after admission. He was 19.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.