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ON THIS DAY

17 May

89

South Africans who made the ultimate sacrifice

On This Day — 17 May

We remember those who died in service on this day:

1900
46804Burgher Christiaan M. De Necker, Krugersdorp (Boer Forces), aged 16. Killed in action, Christiana Hosp.
1901
46228Burgher Barend Mattheus Henning, Vredefort Commando (Boer Forces), aged 26. Killed in action, Klipfontein, Vredefort.
1901
45854Burgher Johannes Theodorus Labuschagne, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces), aged 43. Killed in action, Hartebeestfontein.
1901
45502Burgher C (S) G Nel, Boer Forces, aged 32. Killed in action, Platrand, Soutpansberg.
1901
45521Burgher Cornelis G Nel, Boer Forces, aged 32. Killed in action, Platrand Zoutpansberg.
1902
46312Burgher Pieter Johannes Jacobus Grobler, Marico Commando (Boer Forces), aged 45. Killed in action, Kafferskraal.
1902
45087Burgher Pieter Rodner, Philippolis Commando (Boer Forces), aged 48. Killed in action, Somershoek,Philippolis.
1915
581Labourer Antonie, M/1801, Transport Mobilization Depot (South African Labour Corps), aged 20. Died of pneumonia and tuberculosis.
1915
39525Labourer Japie Collins, 200, 3 Reserve Holding Unit (South African Native Labour Corps), aged 20. Died of pneumonia.
1915
11345Lieutenant Godfrey J J Johnston, 32nd Lancers. Died in Somaliland.
1915
13629Rifleman Alexander Lindsay, 70, Northern Rhodesia Rifles. Killed in action.
1915
18405Labourer Transkei Ndema, 16882, South African Native Labour Corps. Died of unknown causes, at Keetmanshoop.
1915
27760Rifleman Arthur John Warren, 94, Northern Rhodesia Rifles. Killed in action.
1916
18959Rifleman John Norris, R/15690, 2nd Bn. (King's Royal Rifle Corps). Died of wounds.
1916
23772Private Burchall Somerset, 107577, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (British Columbia Regiment), aged 27. Killed in action.
1916
24130Rifleman Harry W Stevens, R/17435, 2nd Bn. (King's Royal Rifle Corps), aged 24. Died on active service.
1916
25641Sergeant Frederick George Turner, 793, 2nd Bn. (Rhodesia Regiment), aged 26. Died of blackwater fever.
1916
28455Private Jack Williams, 810, 3rd Regt. (South African Infantry). Died of wounds.
1917
126Leader Frans Adams, 18460, Military Labour Corps. Died of blackwater fever, at Dodoma.
1917
6672Labourer George Enkwetsh, 16500, South African Native Labour Bureau. Died on active service.
1917
11611Native Driver Toby Jovah, 326, South African Field Artillery, aged 32. Died of malaria.
1917
12068Driver Clentje Kepeyi, 19247, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kisiwani.
1917
14612Donkey Driver John Majuba, 15709, South African Native Labour Bureau. Durban.
1917
16869Labourer George Mkwetsu, 16500, Railway Section (South African Native Labour Bureau). Died at pneumonia, at Dar Es Salaam.
1917
24696Ox Driver Lucas Takha, 12749, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.
1917
26242Unknown Soldier Unknown Soldier, South African Infantry. Died on active service.
1917
26485Captain William Bertram Vallancey, 11th Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 39. Died of blackwater fever.
1917
27331Ship's Cook David Victor, S.S. "Dartmoor" (South Shields) (Mercantile Marine), aged 30. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine.
1917
28378Mule Driver Abel Williams, 17344, Military Labour Corps. Died of syncope, at Kilwa.
1917
28854Major Ralph Worthington, 16th Bn. (Cheshire Regiment), aged 30. Killed in action, at St. Quentin.
1918
4810Sergeant Robert Cunningham, 5778, Military Labour Bureau, S.A. Forces, aged 52. Died of malaria.
1918
17477Private Jacob Morokolo, 14647, South African Native Labour Corps. Died of measles.
1918
20696Lieutenant Edwin Ravenhill Prideaux, 203rd Sqdn. (Royal Air Force), aged 25. Killed in action, flying on Sopwith Camel, shot down near Merville (Nord) after a combat against 15 enemy aircraft.
1918
25411Second Lieutenant Eric Percy Johnstone Touche, Royal Air Force, aged 21. Killed whilst flying.
1919
9113Private Carel Hendrik Hancke, 4795, 1st Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 26. Died of otitis media meningitis.
1919
19459Private John Orr, 10505, 3rd Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 45. Died of miner's phthisis and congestion of lungs, at Valkenburg.
1941
4284Sergeant John Oliver Ross Collins, 776207, 237 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), aged 25. Killed in action, Lysander II P9189, aircraft hit by enemy anti aircraft fire over Tosselli Fort, Eritrea, two days after the Battle of Amba Alagi against Italian forces ended.
1941
26495Sapper Van Antwerpen, 185743, South African Engineer Corps, aged 28. Died on active service.
1942
4369Private David Phillippus Conradie, 118468, Central Army Training Depot, S.A.Forces, aged 42. Died of carcinoma of caecum, at Zonderwater Military Hospital.
1942
24851Sergeant Norman Taylor, 90534, 2 Anti-Tank Regt. (South African Artillery), aged 36. Died on active service, in Tobruk area, Libya.
1943
9381Air Mechanic Alfred Thomas Harvett, 327411, South African Air Force, aged 69. Died on active service.
1944
2113Private Hendrick Booysen, C/318910, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 23. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
1944
3618Lieutenant Ralph Ernest Chaplin, 90481V, 4 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 21. Killed in action, shot down by flak from ship, Ancona, in Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX #MJ948.
1944
4851Lieutenant Basil Roy Curtis-Setchell, 53478V, South African Artillery, aged 32. Killed in action.
1944
5412Lieutenant Douglas John De Villiers, 328497V, 4 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 19. Killed in action, caught fire in dive, crashed Cupra Maritima, in Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX #MJ692.
1944
11111Warrant Officer Lancelot Walter Jearey, 58460V, South African Air Force. Died on active service.
1944
11196Major Hubert Arthur Job, 47421V, 21 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 29. Killed in action, in Martin Baltimore Mk III.
1944
13906Private Louw, C/26412V, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces. Died on active service.
1944
15032Lance Corporal Gibson Maphisa, N/13223, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died on active service.
1944
15353Private William Mashana, C/20818, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 32. Died on active service.
1944
21741Second Lieutenant Cedric Llewellyn Rogers, 11246V, 26 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 23. Killed in action, having baled out of plane and fell on his head while releasing his parachute that had become stuck in tree, in Vickers Wellington Mk XI #HZ523.
1944
23382Pupil Pilot Emil Smit, 606595V, South African Air Force, aged 18. Killed in aircraft accident, crashed on take off, in De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth #2372.
1944
24414Lieutenant Robert Maurice Pringle Stuart, 26671V, 21 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 29. Killed in action, in Martin Baltimore Mk III.
1944
24873Lieutenant Winn Gascoigne Taylor, 107734V, South African Artillery. Died on active service.
1944
28177Second Lieutenant Hermanus Abrance Whitcher, 328523V, 29 Operational Training Unit (South African Air Force), aged 28. Died in Aircraft Accident, Wellington MF314, dived through thick cloud to crash into the ground on navigation exercise, near Mendham, Beccles.
1945
1942Corporal Ernest Arthur Blench, 34000V, 39 Railway Constr. Coy. (South African Engineer Corps). Died of wounds, battle accident, gunshot wound to the head.
1945
15576Private Simon Matsepe, N/50658V, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died of stab wound to the chest.
1945
24905Private Kleinbooi M Tema, N/31474, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 46. Died on active service.
1946
10477Wing Commander George Laurence Bazett Hull, 37355, Royal Air Force, aged 34. Died in Aircraft Accident, Mosquito T.III TW108, crashed at Goadby Marwood in Leicestershire. The starboard engine failed at 1000 feet and the pilot attempted a forced landing. On the approach the aircraft struck trees breaking the tailplane and the aircraft then hit high ground and disintegrated.
1947
3808Sapper Harold W Christie, 192506, South African Engineer Corps, aged 36. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
1947
17021Private Mogomo, N/12971, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 30. Died on active service.
1947
19660Sapper Peter Parker, 65734, South African Engineer Corps, aged 66. Died of pulmonary infection and general debility, at Frere Hospital.
1957
32796Flight Lieutenant Brian Anthony Edmond Sanderson, 4016600, RAF Jever (Royal Air Force), aged 26. Died in Aircraft Accident, Hawker Hunter F Mk.6 XG258, flew into the ground at Bitburg airbase, West Germany during a formation aerobatic display rehearsal and when recovering from a "bomb burst" manouvre, killing the pilot.
1967
40408Private George Douglas Swondo, R43928, 1st Battalion (Rhodesian African Rifles), aged 19. Died in Motor Vehicle Accident.
1973
30627Sergeant James Lionel Hargreaves, 68203041, Air Force Gymnasium (South African Air Force), aged 20. Died in a motor vehicle accident during his lunch hour.
1975
38534Field Reservist Peter James Osborne Knight, 10766, Criminal Investigation Division (British South Africa Police), aged 57. Killed in action, in a contact.
1976
39182Rifleman Nicolau Antonio Da Silva-Chalheiros, PR91132, 1st Battalion (Rhodesia Regiment), aged 22. Died of wounds, gunshot wounds, in a vehicle ambush on the Ft Victoria / Beit Bridge road, Nuanetsi District. da Silva was driving the lead vehicle in a 5-vehicle convoy when they came under heavy rocket, machine gun and rifle fire. His vehicle took most of the hits, killing B.J. Edwards and wounding da Silva. da Silva refused help from his platoon commander stationed next to him, and continued to drive out of the ambush zone.
1976
39290Corporal Brian John Edwards, PR75387, 1st Battalion (Rhodesia Regiment), aged 22. Killed in action, in a vehicle ambush, on the Fort Victoria-Beit Bridge road.
1976
40199Captain Leonard Paul Pitch, V2145, 1st Battalion (Rhodesian Light Infantry), aged 35. Died of wounds, chest wounds received in a contact in Karuyanda, Mt Darwin, Op Hurricane, at Andrew Fleming Hospital.
1977
40201Rifleman Kennith Allan Pittaway, PR84421, 1st Battalion (Rhodesia Regiment), aged 46. Died of wounds, from injuries received in a hand grenade explosion, in a contact near Pachanza, Mt Darwin, Op Hurricane.
1979
39831Rifleman Robert Charles Miller, 134350, 1st Battalion (Rhodesian Defence Regiment), aged 21. Died on active service.
1988
34042Warrant Officer Hendrik Cornelius Johannes Barnard, W49527B, 17 Dist (Graaff Reinet) CE Div (South African Police), aged 41. Killed in shoot out with a mentally deranged man in Fish Hoek, Cape Town.
1988
34913Police Constable Robert Hawton, W410439W, Boksburg (South African Police), aged 21. Killed in shoot out with a mentally deranged man in Fish Hoek, Cape Town.
1988
31021Sergeant Douglas Keel, 77582203, SAS Protea (Special Forces), aged 26. Died in Motor Vehicle Accident, on the Whittlesea - Queenstown road.
1991
32792Rifleman Antonio Joao Sampaio, 89749535PD, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 34. Killed in action, after being struck in the neck by an AK-47 bullet fired from an unknown gunman while he was on patrol in Tokoza Township.
1991
38201Lieutenant Colonel Hercules Johannes Voigt, 0053804-3, Mondeor John Vorster Square Fraud Squad (South African Police), aged 40. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
1993
36077Detective Constable Mpinzi Mdunge, 0602158-1, Mpumalanga (South African Police), aged 45. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
1993
32280Lieutenant Michael Dennis Nixon, 84605062BT, Kaffrarian Rifles (South African Infantry Corps), aged 25. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, Buffel Troop Carrier overturned during a patrol in the Kubusi Forrest near Stutterheim.
1994
30775Warrant Officer Class II Robert Henry Hurn, 79222055PE, Path PI (44 Parachute Regiment), aged 20. Died in Freak Accident, at Bainsvlei, failure of the deployment of the main canopy during a freefall parachute jump. As a result of his death an automatic activator was installed on all sport parachutes.
1994
35213Constable Mhlathuze Isaac Kilfoil, 0460746-5, Ezakheni (South African Police), aged 47. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
1995
30517Staff Sergeant Evert Petrus Philip Gray, 81112112PE, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (SAMS Academy), aged 29. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, at Walmansthall.
1995
32402Corporal George Opperman, 89328835PE, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (South African Medical Health Service), aged 21. Died in a Motor Vehicle Accident, between Wallmansthall and Pretoria.
1996
34674Inspector Ian Frances Fitchat, 0066495-2, 7 Dist (Worcester) CW Div (South African Police), aged 39. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
1999
33998Constable Arthur Herbert Atson, 464895-1, Richmond District (South African Police), aged 30. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
2001
42393Sergeant Seleke, 49603051-3, South African Police Service. Died as a result of their duties.
2001
37490Sergeant Hosea Matsobane Seleke, 603051-3, Crime Intelligence Service, Katlehong (South African Police), aged 21. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
2002
36521Inspector T Daniel Mphago, 619466-4, Claremont, Western Cape (South African Police Service), aged 30. Shot dead and patrol partner Nikiwe Mbalambi, 27, seriously wounded by three hijackers who stole their guns and sped away in their patrol van.
2006
37484Special Constable Hosea Matsobane Sekhutleleng, 7053797-6, Limpopo Province (South African Police Service), aged 21. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.
2006
37793Inspector Jan Valentyn Tabola, 457560-1, 1a Dist (Cape Town) CW Div (South African Police Service), aged 36. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

We will remember them.

Deaths on 17 May by Year