06 February, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the sunset call.
06 Feb 1949: 209538 Air Corporal James Flack Petrie from 1 Air Depot died of cancer of the larynx in 1 Military Hospital. He was 59.
06 Feb 1950: P3312 Boy Second Class Graham Denzil Slade from HMSAS Good Hope died in Hospital from severe burns and smoke inhalation incurred while assisting to extinguish a bushfire in the mountains around Simonstown. He was 16.
06 Feb 1970: Two Constables from the South African Police Counter Insurgency (COIN) Unit were killed near Rundu and seven others were injured while they were returning to Base from a night patrol after their military vehicle drove into a severe thunderstorm, slid off the muddy road and overturned. The casualties were:
47954 Constable Jacobus Stephanus Marais. He was 25.
50554 Constable Nicolaas Sauer. He was 24.
06 Feb 1978: 05091488PE Warrant Officer Class II Theodore Christiaan Combrinck from the Western Province Command Signal Unit collapsed and died after suffering a fatal heart attack at the Unit. He was 54.
06 Feb 1981: 79881207SWH Rifleman L Kavari from 102 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 22.
06 Feb 1982: 79212692BG Corporal Pierre Johan Müller from 2 Special Service Battalion was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Zeerust while on official duty. He was 18.
06 Feb 1982: 81961641HV Rifleman Hirite Vilho from 101 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 20.
06 Feb 1982: 81961831XY Rifleman Ningileyimo Kondjeni Meulemo from 101 Battalion SWATF was killed during operations in Southern Angola after being struck by a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldiers rifle. He was 22.
06 Feb 1983: Private Richard Cameron from the Personnel Service Corps died after being struck in the neck by a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle while in Barracks. He was 19.
06 Feb 1984: 82912981SW Rifleman Xavier Arico from 201 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 24.
06 Feb 1984: Special Constable M. Kaibotya 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 34.
06 Feb 1985: 83893917HV Rifleman Immanuel Gabriel from 101 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 28.
06 Feb 1985: 82498114BG Trooper Hermanus Christoffel Helm from 2 Special Service Battalion collapsed and died after suffering a fatal heart attack during a physical training exercise session at Walvis Bay. He was 18.
06 Feb 1985: 78121001PD Corporal Noel Mbumba Marcel from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 30.
06 Feb 1992: 86262052BG Bombardier Barends Petrus Bezuidenhout from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group died after suffering serious head injuries and internal bleeding in a private motor vehicle accident at Hartbeesfontein. He was 21.
06 Feb 1993: 92681428AR Rifleman Adalbero Siyabero Ngubane from 121 Battalion, South died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained when the taxi in which he was travelling in was shot at by persons unknown near Richmond. He was 26.
06 Feb 1994: 86733862PE Lance Corporal Jonas Kaleni Rikhotso from 7 SAI was found murdered by persons unknown and his body discovered dumped in a ditch at Namakgale. He was 27.
06 Feb 1998: 04871852 Lieutenant Colonel M C Phokane from the Medical Health Services suffered a heart attack and died later in 1 Military Hospital. He was 43.
06 Feb 2019: Corporal Randal Jacques Krynauw from 1 Special Service Battalion was killed when the driver of the Ratel ZT3 in which he was travelling, lost control and overturned with five members on board while on their way to Cape Town in preparation for the Armed Forces Day parade to be held there on the 21st of February 2019. He was 37.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.