PDF

ON THIS DAY

13 March

89

South Africans who made the ultimate sacrifice

On This Day — 13 March

We remember those who died in service on this day:

1901
44806Burgher Joseph Johannes Spies, Harrismith Commando (Boer Forces), aged 21. Killed in action, Giddys Home/Memel.
1901
46117Burgher Wessel H.j. Van Rensburg, Harrismith Commando (Boer Forces), aged 25. Killed in action, Giddy's Home.
1901
44229Burgher Wessel Hendrik.janse Van Rensburg, Harrismith Commando (Boer Forces), aged 25. Killed in action, Giddy's Home near Memel.
1902
48517Burgher Andries Francois Van Den Berg, Prisoner of War (Boer Forces), aged 62. Died of heart disease while a prisoner of war, Simon's Town.
1915
7043Private Raymond Fox Ferguson, 9277, 2nd Bn. (Leicestershire Regiment). Killed in action.
1915
13442Lieutenant Thomas Arthur Letters, 3rd Bn. (Gordon Highlanders), aged 21. Killed in action.
1915
18729Burgher Thomas Robert Nicholas, Brand's Horse (Mounted Commandos, S.A. Forces). Killed by motor car, at Kimberley.
1915
25088Sergeant Wilfred Lionel Thomas, 11091, 1st Bn. (Worcestershire Regiment). Killed in action.
1916
18628Lieutenant Charles Hercules Francis Augustus Newton, 10th Bn. (King's Royal Rifle Corps). Killed in action.
1916
24817Major Frank Taylor, 10th Bn. (York and Lancaster Regiment), aged 30. Killed in action.
1917
1786Commander Thomas Wyburn Biddlecombe, H.m.s. "q27" (Royal Australian Navy), aged 36. Killed in action, North Atlantic, west of Ireland - torpedoed once by German "U-38". Q-ship "Warner" ("Q-27", cargo ship, 1, 300grt, 1911) was on an eastward course as a tempting U-boat target. She was torpedoed around 09.00hrs, going down in five minutes. Some of her survivors were picked up by British submarine "D.3".
1917
2125Ox Driver Stephen Booysen, 16656, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.
1917
3118Shoeing Smith Robert Burton, T/1130, Animal Transport (South African Service Corps), aged 46. Died of malaria.
1917
5056Leader Joseph Davids, 17508, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.
1917
5585Private Edward Henry Dert, 1609, 1st (Cape Corps). Died of cerebral malaria, at Cape Town.
1917
9687Driver William Hendriks, 18220, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.
1917
10735Labourer Richard Isaacs, 17138, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.
1917
11691Private Melesi Kabelo, 1640, 1st Bn. (South African Native Labour Corps). Died of tuberculosis of the lungs, at 5 Stationary Hospital, Dieppe.
1917
15378Private Jim Nyati Masia, 9884, 21st Coy. (South African Native Labour Corps), aged 21. Accidentally killed.
1917
21045Driver William Rampina, 13050, South African Native Labour Bureau. Rufiji.
1917
21065Donkey Driver Philemon Ramura, 17381, Military Labour Corps. Died of malaria, at Kilwa.
1917
23048Labourer Paul Sibulayi, 18241, East African Expeditionary Force (South African Native Labour Bureau). Died of malaria, at Kilwa.
1917
28106Sergeant Henry West, NL/202, South African Native Labour Bureau, aged 57. Died of malaria.
1917
28648Sergeant Ronald Selby Champion Wilson, 1348, 2nd Bn. (Rhodesia Regiment), aged 36. Died of blackwater fever.
1917
29152Mule Driver Samson Zuwele, 17747, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.
1919
2889Second Hand Arthur Frederick Brunson, 519 SA, H.M.S. "City of London" (Royal Naval Reserve), aged 26. Died on active service.
1922
29203Civilian Sydney George Beal, Civilian, aged 27. Found dead on veldt near Police Station, gun shot wound through chest, during Rand Revolt.
1922
41532Civilian Abraham Hermanus Bruwer, 82807611SCN, 202 Battalion (Civilian), aged 28. Died of gun shot wounds, chest and head, during Rand Revolt.
1922
41533Civilian Annie Bullard, 82807611SCN, 202 Battalion (Civilian), aged 49. Died of gun shot wounds, head, during Rand Revolt.
1922
41534Civilian Gert Cornelius Jacobus Cloete, 82807611SCN, 202 Battalion (Civilian), aged 46. Died of gun shot wounds, during Rand Revolt.
1922
41535Civilian Dirk Johannes De Meillon, 82807611SCN, 202 Battalion (Civilian), aged 25. Died of gun shot wounds, during Rand Revolt.
1922
30181Lieutenant Adrian Duck, United Nations Monuc Mission (South African Mounted Rifles), aged 37. Died of wounds, received during Rand Revolt, at Dunswart.
1922
30882Air Corporal William Henry Johns, 76, South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (KOEVOET) (South African Air Force), aged 26. Killed in action, by groundfire. Bullet entered visor on Whippet tank during unrest at Benoni.
1922
32734Private Frederick Vasey Adams Ross, 70527, 8th Infantry (Transvaal Scottish), aged 23. Died of wounds, received at Dunswart, during Rand Revolt.
1922
377691st Class Constable Cornelis Jacob Swanepoel, 1573, Umtata (South African Police), aged 21. Killed in action, during Rand Revolt.
1922
41530Civilian William Traut, 82807611SCN, 202 Battalion (Civilian), aged 41. Died of gunshot wounds, during Rand Revolt.
1922
41688Civilian Cornelius Johannes Van Aswegen, 82901869SWK, 202 Battalion (Civilian), aged 35. Died of wounds, received during Rand Revolt, at Johannesburg Hospital.
1941
6221Lieutenant Leighton Rex Dudley, 102839, 3 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 24. Killed in aircraft accident, shot down near Dagah Bur, in Hawker Hurricane Mk I #283.
1941
6661Private Thomas Wait Engelbrecht, 62228, 1/2 (Field Force Battalion, S.A. Forces), aged 29. Died in lorry accident, at Nanyuki, Kenya.
1941
14042Private Phiri Lupenga, NRA/30225, Northern Rhodesia Regiment. Died on active service.
1941
21015Private Silla Moses Ramatsoe, N/10235, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 20. Died of tuberculosis.
1941
24125Civilian Cecil Stevens, Civilian War Dead, aged 41. Killed at 159 Second Avenue, during the "Clydebank Blitz".
1942
12304Sergeant Douglas Frank Sidney Kirby, 711063, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 25. Died in Aircraft Accident, Harvard P5950, at Norton, Rhodesia.
1943
4084Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Joseph Cochrane, 68947, S.S. Empress of Canada (South African Naval Forces), aged 33. Lost in S.S. Empress of Canada.
1943
9194Midshipman Kenneth Peter Hardy, H.M.S. Revenge (Royal Navy), aged 18. Died in ship loss.
1943
17080Private Malegase F Mokalapa, N/75504, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 26. Died of acute nephritis.
1943
20936Private Kleinbooi Radibe, N/80560, attd. 25 Air School S.A.A.F. (Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces). Died of dysentery.
1943
22618Private Simon Sebotsa, N/34900, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 25. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
1944
5657Pupil Pilot Malcolm Dick, 543081V, South African Air Force. Killed in aircraft accident, 2 crew (1 RAFVR) lost height on take off at night and crashed near Standerton, in AT-6 Harvard #7452.
1944
12605Private Johannes Jurgens Phillipus Kraft, 311979V, South African Medical Corps, aged 20. Died on active service.
1944
13098Private Bernard Le Fleur, M/23575, Indian and Malay Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 24. Died on active service.
1944
24523Sergeant Samuel Oswald Swailes, 37299V, General Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 53. Died of broncho pneumonia, pericarditis and septicemia.
1945
2556Private Johannes Petrus Bresler, 88499, 1st (South African Irish), aged 34. Killed on a train, whilst a POW.
1945
3572Sergeant Ernest Henry Thomas Chalmers, 31199V, 4/22 Field Regt. (South African Artillery), aged 38. Died of penetrating head injury, suspected self-inflicted.
1945
5322Sapper Willem Sternberg Pretorius De Klerk, 141521, South African Engineer Corps, aged 31. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
1945
18419Private Jeremiah Ndhlovu, N/38476, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died of peritonitis, following stab wound.
1945
28367Private Marthinus David Willenberg, C/165699, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 39. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
1946
23762Lance Corporal Solomons, M/24771, Indian and Malay Corps, S.A. Forces. Died after discharge.
1947
1101Corporal Frederick Johannes Barkhuizen, 140739, South African Corps of Military Police, aged 33. Died of post operative broncho pneumonia following vagotomy.
1954
30666Second Lieutenant William Benjamin Heckroodt, P1/42266, 4 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 22. Killed in aircraft accident, struck ground during low flying and crashed near Bronkhorstspruit, on the Groblersdaal Rd, in AT-6 Harvard #7635.
1955
29975Corporal Pieter H C De Jager, Pietersburg Commando (South African Infantry Corps), aged 36. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, at Delmas. Military truck collided with a train while returning from Piet Retief after training.
1960
35287Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 3019, Booysens CID (South African Police), aged 27. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
1965
41504Student Constable Cornelius Tobias Du Plooy, 79012019PE, Finance Dept (South African Police), aged 17. Died of fractured skull, at Pretoria Hospital.
1971
40325Bandsman Siabuwa Siasumpa, PR104114, Protected Village Protection Group (Metheun Camp Barracks), aged 46. Died of asphyxia.
1976
40029Field Assistant Michael Mandipaza Nasho, R73167T, African Development Fund (Internal Affairs), aged 25. Murdered, by terrorists, at Msau Kraal, Mtoka Tribal Trust Lands, Mudzi, Op Hurricane.
1976
37619Detective Constable Maxwell M Sishuba, S135806K, Witwatersrand (South African Police), aged 19. Shot and killed when his official vehicle was ambushed in Dobsonville, Soweto.
1977
33114Rifleman Jacobus Frederick Steyn, 73341729BA, 5 South African Infantry Battalion (South African Infantry Corps), aged 19. Died in military vehicle accident. Buffel rolled 12 km from Kwando on the road to Katima Mulilo.
1980
39211Aircraftsman Duncan George Dhale, 50887, General Service Unit (Rhodesian Air Force), aged 51. Died on active service.
1982
30186Rifleman Eduardo Dumba, 81533630SP, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 22. Killed in action, during the grueling eight hour ground fire fight of Op Super. A 45 strong force of 32 Battalion with gunship support killed 201 SWAPO as well as captured vast amounts of equipment in the rugged terrain of Kaokaland desert.
1982
30870Corporal Yombi Joao, 76908342SP, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 27. Killed in action, during the grueling eight hour ground fire fight of Op Super. A 45 strong force of 32 Battalion with gunship support killed 201 SWAPO as well as captured vast amounts of equipment in the rugged terrain of Kaokaland desert.
1982
32221Second Lieutenant Petrus Johannes Stephanus Nel, 78440187PF, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 19. Killed in action. Swapo had set up a new infiltration route into the Kaokoveld towards the end of 1981. When the South African army learned of this it was decided to assault the transit camp based at Cambeno 40 kms north of the Cunene River. Puma helicopters airlifted the assault force but as the choppers lifted off they found that the enemy was only 50 metres away from the LZ. Fortunately for Nel the helicopter gunships managed to neutralize some of the enemy and gave him a chance to consolidate his position. An intense fire fight developed and Lieutenant Nel's position was being assaulted on both flanks simultaneously. He then called for air support but as this was not available he and two men charged the enemy to try and eliminate the threat to his troops. During this selfless act his was killed. A 45 strong force of 32 Battalion with gunship support killed 201 SWAPO as well as captured vast amounts of equipment in the rugged terrain of Kaokaland desert.
1982
33100Corporal Phillip Thomas Stewart, 77581098PE, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 23. Killed in action, during the grueling eight hour ground fire fight of Op Super. A 45 strong force of 32 Battalion with gunship support killed 201 SWAPO as well as captured vast amounts of equipment in the rugged terrain of Kaokaland desert.
1983
30066Sergeant Johan Diedericks, 72455488PE, 5 Maintenance Unit (South African Ordnance Services Corps), aged 26. Died in a private motorcycle accident on the Oshakati-Ondangua road.
1983
32985Rifleman Andrew Matthews Smit, 80354004BG, 5 South African Infantry Battalion (South African Infantry Corps), aged 18. Killed in action, landmine.
1986
32461Corporal Victor Rodriques Pedro, 78120870PD, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (1 Reconnaissance Regiment), aged 31. Died in Freak Accident, drowned, at Durban.
1987
32811Corporal Zacharias Frederick Scheepers, 80285422, 3 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 22. Died in a private motorcycle accident near AFB Langebaanweg. Head on collision between 2 motorcycles.
1988
29400Private Carel Johannes Beneke, 86278504BG, 1 Maintenance Unit (South African Ordnance Services Corps), aged 18. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, near Buffalo, Namibia, vehicle skidded and rolled.
1988
30406Lieutenant Herman Jan Roelof Gerding, 68214261BG, CFS Dunnottar (South African Medical Corps), aged 35. Died in Military Vehicle Accident between Rundu and the the military base. He was a passanger in an ambulance which struck the rear of a broken down truck next to the road. He was flung out and the ambulance landed on top of him. He died on the scene.
1992
30942Airman Werner Andries Joubert, 77217909BG, 1 South African Infantry Battalion (South African Air Force), aged 19. Died on active service.
1993
36261Constable David M Mofokeng, 0600985-9, Moroka, Soweto (South African Police), aged 30. Assaulted and hanged by a native.
1996
35735Constable Johannes Mamabolo, 0637509-0, Municipal Police (South African Police), aged 44. Shot dead in Katlehong while escorting a delivery vehicle into the area.
1998
37678Constable Theunis Christoffel Sobekwa, 918775-8, Fauresmith (South African Police), aged 22. Died on active service.
2000
30450Corporal Abilho Gabriel, 81533788PE, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (5 Special Service Battalion), aged 39. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, at Phalaborwa, passenger in Caspir that overturned when driver lost control.
2003
36138Inspector Nicholas Jan Mhlongo, 491641-7, Mpumalanga (South African Police Service), aged 29. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
2004
35368Inspector Japie Pieter Lebudi, 485828-0, Gauteng (South African Police Service), aged 40. Murdered.
2004
36972Inspector Joseph Ntloko, 513405-6, Western Cape (South African Police Service), aged 44. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
2008
36071Constable Mpinzi Mdluli, 543649-4, Mpumalanga (South African Police Service), aged 45. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
2010
42616Typist Masoka, 543077-1, South African Police Service. Died as a result of their duties.
2010
42617Inspector Mtshawe, 457623-3, South African Police Service. Died as a result of their duties.

We will remember them.

Deaths on 13 March by Year