09 February, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
09 Feb 1935: 43282 Trooper Louis Lourens Erasmus from Charlie Company, Special Service Battalion died after suffering cardiac failure in 1 Military Hospital. He was 21.
09 Feb 1955: P/3562 Warrant Officer Class I Salmon Johannes Gerhardus Scholtz from 4 Vehicle Reserve Park died of liver cancer in 1 Military Hospital. He was 50.
09 Feb 1957: Captain Harold Edward White from 1 Air Depot died from cirrhosis of the liver in 1 Military Hospital. He was 53.
09 Feb 1961 4044 Flying Officer Eric George Cary from 1 Squadron. Royal Rhodesian Air Force was killed when his Vampire FB9 RRAF 104 crashed on Milsonia Farm at Que Que while engaged in a training exercise. He was 21.
09 Feb 1977: 72253644KT Rifleman Frederick Francois Oosthuizen from Meyerton Commando was killed after suffering a fatal gunshot wound resulting from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle while his patrol was busy preparing an ambush position north of Oshakati. He was 20.
09 Feb 1980: 77259935BG Corporal Johan Phillipus Mynhardt from 2 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Walvis Bay. He was 18.
09 Feb 1981: 76556836BG Rifleman Petrus Johannes Lombard from 11 Commando Regiment was found dead at the Unit with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head administered with his R1 Rifle. He was 20.
09 Feb 1987: 83492959BG Corporal Marius Viljoen from 2 Special Service Battalion was killed at the Rooisloot Training Area at Zeerust when his Eland 90 Armoured Car overturned during training exercises. He suffered extensive internal injuries when he was thrown out of the Commanders hatch. He was 19.
09 Feb 1990: 86475867BG Rifleman Gerhard Paul Heine from 5 SAI was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident at Umhlanga Rocks. He was 19.
09 Feb 1998: 96844105 Able Seaman G Kheswa from Naval Base Simonstown was shot dead by persons unknown while traveling on the train to Simonstown. He was 20.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.