09 December, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
09 Dec 1969: 4277 Trooper Teddy Ronald East, a South African National serving in the 1st Battalion Rhodesian Light Infantry, died in the Salisbury Central Hospital from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained in the field. He was 18.
09 Dec 1977: Two members from 1 SAI were Killed in Action when their patrol walked into a SWAPO/PLAN insurgent ambush near St. Mary’s Mission on the Yati Strip. They were:
73336885BG Corporal Abraham Izak Emmanuel Venter. He was 20.
73344103BG Rifleman Edwin Chaplin Bishop. He was 20.
09 Dec 1982: 77153997HK Rifleman Simeon Shimbaranda from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 24.
09 Dec 1983: 79389656BG Rifleman Allen Derick Wolton from 7 SAI was killed in an accidental mortar bomb explosion during operations in Southern Angola. He was 19.
09 Dec 1991: 81138018PE Sergeant Laurens Kruger from Group 21 was killed when his Military vehicle overturned between Watersend and Bray. He was 26.
09 Dec 1993: 91201111BG 2/Lieutenant Gideon van Zyl from 4 SAI was Killed in Action by hostile automatic weapons fire in Katlehong Township on the East Rand during a military intervention in a fire-fight between Armed IFP and ANC Militia’s. He was 19.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.