Lest We Forget... 5 April

05 April, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the sunset call.

05 April 1979: Special Constable Wilino Shamoketa from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 28.

05 April 1979: 67455097PM Captain Martin Charles Silberbauer from 85 Combat Flying School was killed at the Roodewal Bombing Range near Pietersburg when his Dassault Mirage III D2Z 851 struck the ground while the Pilot tried to recover the aircraft after carrying out a practice rocket attack. He was 28.

05 April 1983: 80286958BG Private Patrick Cornelius Engel from 16 Maintenance Unit was killed when his Withings Recovery Vehicle drove into the rear of a stationary vehicle at Oshivello. He was 19.

05 April 1984: 83891044SWK Rifleman Joseph Sindimba from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 23.

05 April 1987: Two members from 2 SWA SPES, SWATF, were Killed in Action near Evale in Southern Angola while supporting Operation Kakebeen alongside 32 Battalion. While forming up in Company Formation in preparation to move out, the group was subjected to a hit-and-run attack on their rear position by a small group of heavily armed SWAPO/PLAN insurgents using rifle grenades and sustained AK-47 and RPD light machine-gun fire. Both members were killed alongside each other under a tree that was situated in the middle of the formation. The casualties in this attack were:

76909068SP Corporal Fernando Andre (ex 32 Battalion Recce Wing). He was 26.

Rifleman Victor Gaiseb. He was 20.

05 April 1988: Special Constable Uakandjangu Tjiumbu from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 26.

Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.