31 December, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
31 Dec 1949: 640259 Corporal Petrus Johannes Saaiman from the Essential Services Protection Corps died from pancreatic cancer in 1 Military Hospital. He was 56.
31 Dec 1950: Corporal Cecil Douglas Holland from Central Flying School Dunnottar died in 1 Military Hospital as a result of accidental carbon tetrachloride poisoning He was 30.
31 Dec 1971: 66520073PE Sergeant Petrus Johannes Engelbrecht from 1 Special Service Battalion Died of Wounds received in an accidental hand grenade explosion while serving in the Caprivi Strip. Eleven others were also injured in the same incident. He was 21. He was the third SADF soldier to Die on Service in the Bush War.
31 Dec 1975: 72456049BC Rifleman Michael Lenin van der Schyff from the Equestrian Regiment was killed after being struck by a bullet from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldiers rifle in northern Owamboland. He was 19.
31 Dec 1976: 74468331BA Rifleman Jacobus Abraham Visser from Infantry School was killed when he accidentally fell from a horse and broke his neck. He was 18.
31 Dec 1982: 78319100BG Lance Corporal André Christiaan Weideman from 6 SAI was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned on the Oshakati to Ruacana road. He was thrown out of the vehicle and crushed when the vehicle rolled over him. He was 20.
31 Dec 1983: Two members were Killed in Action near Cuvelai in Southern Angola during Ops Askari when their Ratel 20 was engaged by a Soviet 23mm ZU-23-2 Anti-Aircraft being utilised in the ground defence role. The casualties were:
78373362BG 2/Lieutenant Pieter Marcus Liebenberg from 4 SAI attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group. He was killed instantly when the Ratel Command Cupola was hit by an armour-piercing incendiary projectile. He was 21.
78487702BT Rifleman Johan Carel Fourie from Regiment Groot Karoo, attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group exited the vehicle after the Ratel was knocked out and took cover behind a large tree but a 23mm armour-piercing incendiary projectile sliced right through the tree, hitting him in the neck area and killing him instantly. He was 21.
31 Dec 1983: Three Members from 4 SAI attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group were Killed in Action during Ops Askari in Southern Angola when a Soviet 82mm High Explosive Mortar Bomb exploded on the Roll-bar of their Buffel Troop Carrier, spraying the inside of the vehicle with lethal shrapnel, killing them instantly. They were:
81312464BG Rifleman Gabriel Pieter le Roux. He was 20.
81173254BG Rifleman Derick John Schrönen. He was 18.
81301293BG Rifleman Mathys Cornelius Smit. He was 18.
31 Dec 1986: 82380890BG Trooper Peter Matthews from 1 Special Service Battalion, attached to 32 Battalion contracted cerebral malaria while deployed in Southern Angola. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he sadly succumbed to the illness. He was 20.
31 Dec 1994: 94781838AD Lance Corporal Zolile Gabriel Mathe from 5 Special Forces Regiment and based at Group 46, was shot dead by persons unknown at Lusikisiki while on official vacation leave. He was 37.
31 Dec 1998: 95650073 Gunner K J Shabalala from 4 Artillery Regiment was stabbed to death in Durban by persons unknown. He was 25.
31 Dec 1998: 96683575 Rifleman B.S. Xulu from 121 Battalion was shot dead at Eshowe by persons unknown. He was 24.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.