31 January, let us pause to remember these young men and women from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
31 Jan 1950: P/12689 Gunner Walter Francis van der Hoven from 55 Brigade Field Company South African Artillery suffered an allergic reaction and died of procaine (local anaesthetic) poisoning after it was administered to him by a doctor in 1 Military Hospital. He was 21.
31 Jan 1956: Captain William John Karsen, a former member of the Cape Mounted Rifles died from of carcinoma of bladder. He was 71.
31 Jan 1974: 69010239E Sergeant Sarel Johannes Swanepoel from Air Force Base Swartkop suffered a fatal heart attack at his home. He was 42.
31 Jan 1979: 75339242BG Private Christo Andre Wessels from the Air Force Gymnasium was found dead in Springs with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 19.
31 Jan 1982: 81543969PE Sergeant (Mrs) Elizabeth Mostert from the Orange Free State Command Headquarters was killed while on duty in Voortrekkerhoogte, Pretoria when she was accidentally run over by a police vehicle. She was 50.
31 Jan 1985: Sergeant Willem van As from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 27.
31 Jan 1985: 81956534SWK Rifleman K.E. Mbambo from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 22.
31 Jan 1986: Leading Seaman Marine Johan Pieter Dundee Verster from SAS Donkin was Reported Missing after he disappeared together with his Namacura Harbour Patrol Boat Y-1506. He was last seen leaving the Port Elizabeth Harbour alone in the vessel and heading out to sea at 17h20 that the evening. Despite an intensive aerial, land, sea and coastal search over a number of weeks, both he and Namacura Y-1506 were never found. He has no known grave and remains unaccounted for. He was 19. His name appears together with his Late Father on a Memorial Plaque in the Searle Memorial Church in Long Street, Bersig, Groot Brak. To date, no information whatsoever regarding this incident has ever come to light and no trace of any wreckage from Namacurra Y-1506 has ever been found. This incident still remains one of the South African Navy’s biggest unsolved mysteries.
31 Jan 1986: 05546072PE Commandant Marchall Aubrey Joseph Facer from the Highveld Air Space Control Sector at Devon was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Delmas. He was 39.
31 Jan 1987: Corporal Charles John Oram from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment was killed in a private motor vehicle Accident between Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit. He was 26.
31 Jan 1997: 92726066PV Rifleman Jolous Suprice Hlatswayo from Kruger Park Commando was killed in a military motor vehicle accident at Swartkopfontein. He was 27.
31 Jan 1997: 67945675E Staff Sergeant Wilhelm Hermanus Jacobus Joubert from the South African Medical Health Service accidentally drowned when fell overboard during a boating trip on the Hartebeespoort Dam. He was 34.
31 Jan 1997: 93664019 Rifleman M E Kutumela from 7 SAI was killed in a military motor vehicle accident near Phalaborwa. He was 26.
31 Jan 1998: 80222144 Rifleman Ben Welgemoed from 9 SAI died of disease in Worcester. He was 33.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.