04 February, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
04 Feb 1953: Lieutenant James Charles Ansell from Air Operations School Langebaanweg was killed when his De Havilland Vampire, Serial No. 212 crashed near Langebaan. He was 24.
04 Feb 1957: P/12892 Sergeant Reginald Percival Jenkins from the Army Pay Corps took his own life while in 1 Military Hospital and died as a result of cocaine poisoning. He was 33.
04 Feb 1963: 5083 Pilot Officer Terrance Ryan, a South African National serving in 4 Squadron Royal Rhodesian Air Force, was killed when his T52 Percival Provost, Serial Number RRAF 307, crashed near the Salisbury Motel. He was 27.
04 Feb 1978: 74444514BG Corporal David Anthony Rawlins from the Natal Command Workshop died as a result of multiple injuries sustained in a private motor vehicle accident near Kokstad. He was 19.
04 Feb 1980: Three members from 6 SAI were Killed in Action when their patrol was ambushed around mid-morning near Nkongo by SWAPO/PLAN insurgents using heavy calibre weapons, mortars and RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rockets. Rifleman Maritz who was walking point, was shot dead in the initial exchange while the other two platoon mortarists were killed when a Soviet 82mm mortar bomb landed and exploded next to them while they were returning fire. Another member then crawled over and rolled their bodies over to get to the mortar bombs they had on them and returned fire on his own. His bravery directly contributed to the enemy force breaking off the contact. The casualties in this fierce action were:
77547016BG Rifleman Michael Derek Loubser. He was 20.
75518290BG Rifleman Jacobus Johannes Maritz. He was 20.
75455980BG Rifleman Jacobus Johannes van der Star. He was 20.
04 Feb 1980: 79873006SC Rifleman Anthony Michael Scholtz from 41 Battalion (Later 911 Battalion SWATF) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 17.
04 Feb 1981: 77396687BG Corporal Daniel Johannes van Wyk from Sector 20 Headquarters was killed in a military vehicle accident near Rundu. He was 19.
04 Feb 1982: 73233512BG 2/Lieutenant Douglas Raymond Fincham from 82 Mechanised Brigade accidentally drowned in the Vaal River at Barkley West. He was 24.
04 Feb 1983: 80563422BG Private Jan Gabriel Johannes van der Berg from 201 Battalion SWATF was accidentally killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned during follow-up operations in Southern Angola. He was 20.
04 Feb 1986: 84517499BG Private Ronnie Marx from 1 Maintenance Unit was killed instantly when he was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm. He was 18.
04 Feb 1987: 82244856BG Sapper Shawn Engelbrecht from 25 Field Squadron was Killed in Action when his Buffel Troop Carrier detonated a landmine in Northern Owamboland. He was 20.
04 Feb 1988: Two members from a 101 Battalion Romeo Mike Team were Killed in Action near Mupa in Southern Angola when their Casspir drove into an ambush and was struck by two Czechoslovakian RPG-75 Anti-Tank Rockets. One of the rockets hit the Browning Machine Gun Shield and struck 2/Lieutenant McCann in the head, killing him instantly. The other rocket went in just under the window of the gunners Browning gun barrel. Sapper Michael Suter was killed by a burst of Soviet PKM machine-gun fire that peppered the back of the Casspir where he was sitting and the Transfer case was shredded. The casualties were:
82463563BG 2/Lieutenant Michael Sean McCann. He was 21.
84591932BG Sapper Michael Colin Suter from 25 Field Engineer Squadron attached to the 101 Battalion Romeo Mike. He was 20.
04 Feb 1988: Two members from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) were Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. They were:
Special Sergeant Shibu Kandyongu. He was 29.
Special Sergeant V. Noemuweda. He was 32.
04 Feb 1994: 89753396PE Rifleman Depherence Mamogege Mafolo from 115 Battalion, returned from a foot patrol and failed to hand in his weapon. Shots were heard and upon investigation, he was found dead with two self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head administered by using his R4 rifle. He was 29.
04 Feb 1997: 80153794 Seaman T Mqungquthu from Naval Base Simonstown accidentally drowned after falling off the quayside at the ships dock. He was 22.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.