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ON THIS DAY

20 January

91

South Africans who made the ultimate sacrifice

On This Day — 20 January

We remember those who died in service on this day:

1899
47680Burgher J.l.(P) Marais, Utrecht Commando (Boer Forces), aged 18. Killed in action, Talana.
1900
47476Burgher Frans Stapelberg Bester, Krugersdorp (Boer Forces), aged 17. Killed in action, Spioenkop.
1900
47466Burgher Pieter Bester, Potchefstroom (Boer Forces), aged 27. Killed in action, Spioenkop.
1900
47041Burgher Hendrik Andries Coetzee, Winburg Commando (Boer Forces), aged 38. Killed in action, Ladysmith Hospital.
1900
46805Burgher Adriaan Francois De Necker, Kroonstad (Boer Forces), aged 48. Killed in action, Harrismith.
1900
46775Burgher Walter De Vos, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Spioenkop.
1900
46772Burgher Albertus J De Wet, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Spioenkoparea.
1900
46669Burgher Willem Hendrik Du Plessis, Vryheid (Boer Forces), aged 26. Killed in action, Platrand.
1900
45421Burgher Stefanus F P Olivier, Boksburg (Boer Forces), aged 36. Killed in action, Spioenkop area.
1900
44989Burgher Jan C. Scheffers, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Spioenkop.
1900
44575Burgher Petrus Van Biljon, Kroonstad (Boer Forces), aged 33. Killed in action, near Spioenkop.
1900
44294Burgher Michiel Christoffel Van Niekerk, Johannesburg (Boer Forces), aged 33. Killed in action, Spioenkop.
1901
47028Burgher Jan Sarel Coetzee, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces), aged 22. Killed in action, Bosmanskop.
1901
45717Burgher C.w. Mays, Boer Forces, aged 28. Killed in action, Pretoria.
1901
44712Burgher Wynand Hendrik Strydom, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces). Killed in action, Boesmanskop.
1901
48523Burgher Arnoldus Francois Vosloo, Prisoner of War (Boer Forces), aged 70. Died of stroke while a prisoner of war, Simon's Town.
1910
32416Sergeant Alfred Over, 77492015BT, South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (KOEVOET) (Transvaal Police), aged 37. Killed in action, during Rand Revolt.
1916
6047Trooper Pieter Theunis Christian Du Plessis, 9526, Belfields Scouts. Killed in action.
1916
6317Second Lieutenant Hugh Durant, 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers, aged 38. Killed in action, when a 2 inch mortar shell fired from Guildford trench by a detachment of the 62nd Trench Mortar Battery, prematurely exploded immediately after firing.
1917
396Private Charles Allison, 3142, 1st (Cape Corps). Killed in action, at Mkindu (Rufiji River).
1917
890Private George Munford Bailey, 8399, 10th Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 22. Died on active service.
1917
2097Donkey Driver Klaas Booyse, 16688, South African Native Labour Bureau. Died of malaria, at Dar es Salaam.
1917
2494Private Wylie Jacob Brandsma, 8488, 11th Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 23. Died of malaria, at sea, on H.M.T "Guildford Castle".
1917
7546Private Joseph Franck, 2039, 1st (Cape Corps). Killed in action, at Mkindu (Rufiji River).
1917
7583Private Zacharias Frans, 2552, 1st (Cape Corps), aged 22. Killed in action, at Mkindu (Rufiji River).
1917
7963Private James Geduld, 2763, 1st (Cape Corps). Killed in action, at Mkindu (Rufiji River).
1917
9745Private Alfred James Herbert, 13162, 6th Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 18. Died of dysentery.
1917
11973Battery Sergeant Major Guy Wardman Kelly, 750, 4th Permanent Bty. (South African Mounted Rifles), aged 34. Died of acute cardiac dilitation.
1917
15319Driver Kleinbooi Marupi, 17008, South African Native Labour Corps. East Africa.
1917
17886Labourer Albert Mtshiselwa, 15353, Horse Transport (South African Native Labour Bureau). Mitole.
1917
19041Leader Andres Nteledi, 7918, South African Native Labour Bureau. Died of malaria, at Dar es Salaam.
1917
19562Leader Johannes Paduko, 6722, South African Native Labour Bureau. Died of cerebral malaria, at Morogoro.
1917
25340Rifleman Joseph Todd, 703, 2nd (South African Rifles). Died of appendicitis.
1917
29154Driver William Zuzo, 13656, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.
1918
1160Corporal Richard Barnes, 12065, Native Carrier Transport (Military Labour Bureau, S.A. Forces), aged 45. Died of dysentery, at Durban.
1918
1889Labourer Sim Blaha, MSA/505404, South African Native Labour Bureau. Died on active service.
1918
17297Leader Jan Mongale, 13564, South African Native Labour Bureau. Died at Jacobs Hospital Durban.
1918
18709Private Frans Ngwana, 10320, 18th Bn. (South African Native Labour Corps). Died of tuberculosis of the lungs.
1918
25087Corporal William John Thomas, 12359, Native Carrier Transport (Military Labour Bureau, S.A. Forces). Died of pneumonia, at Lindi.
1919
5928Driver Charles Douglas, HT/378, 879th Coy. (Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport). Died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
1920
9282Major John James Fitzgerald Harris, 1st Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 43. Died of abdominal tumour.
1939
29866Air Mechanic John William Crampton, 88743539PE, School of Logistical Training (South African Air Force), aged 24. Died at Addington Hospital, Durban.
1942
458Major Frank Graham Anderson, AI/633, 1st Bn. (15th Punjab Regiment), aged 34. Died on active service.
1942
5543Engine Room Artificer 4th Class William Alexander Dempster, P/MX 73711, H.M. Submarine Triumph (Royal Navy), aged 25. Missing at sea, lost in Cyclades. HMS Triumph left Alexandria on 26th December 1941 to land a party of commandos ashore and then patrol the Aegean. Four days later she signalled that the party had been successfully landed at Bireans. She was due to return to pick up the commandos on 9th January but failed to make the rendezvous. Nothing further was heard of the submarine. No axis power claimed her destruction and it is believed that she struck a mine.
1942
18692Private Daniel Ngozo, N/22320, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died in lorry accident.
1943
7239Sergeant Sydney Flax, 31377, Technical Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 31. Died on active service.
1943
17318Staff Sergeant Montgomery, CR/1240, Rhodesia Regiment. Died on active service.
1943
18425Private Mhobeni Ndhlovu, N/56302, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died of dysentery.
1944
2998Telegraphist Anthony Bunn, 69371, H.M.S. Kongoni (South African Naval Forces), aged 21. Died on active service.
1944
8444Private Samuel Gorekoang, N/80224, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died of thrombosis.
1944
16648Pupil Pilot Glen Miller, 543166V, South African Air Force. Killed in aircraft accident, crashed, in AT-6 Harvard #7195.
1944
27328Sergeant Paul Vernon De Villiers Vickers, 710145, 83 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). Killed in action, Lancaster ED 974, bombing Berlin, nothing heard from this aircraft after takeoff.
1944
28078Sergeant Cornelius G Werner, C/300634V, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces. Died on active service.
1945
3927Private Douglas William Clarke, 1577, Umvoti Mounted Rifles, S.A. Forces, aged 26. Died of exposure, whilst escaping from POW camp, in Italy.
1945
11236Private Abraham Johnson, C/567576, 1st Bn. (Cape Corps, S.A. Forces), aged 22. Died on active service.
1945
16469Corporal Christian W Meyer, 75165V, Q Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 46. Died on active service.
1945
18872Private Johannes Nkomo, N/52141V, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died in road accident.
1945
26942Private Gert Van Rensburg, 117814V, Q Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 44. Died on active service.
1945
28076Fireman Willie Wepener, S.S. Narwik (Merchant Navy), aged 36. Drowned through misadventure at Perth, Western Australia.
1945
28132Sergeant Frank Whaits, 251670, South African Corps of Signals, aged 61. Died on active service.
1946
3757Private Chirwa, N/40890, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died on active service.
1946
12454Sapper Henry Charles Knoesen, 614248V, 2 Docks Operating Coy. (South African Engineer Corps), aged 34. Died on active service.
1977
40949Sergeant S Marufu Muchemwa, 644539, 2nd Battalion (Rhodesian African Rifles), aged 35. Died in Vehicle Accident, en route to Fort Victoria.
1978
39811Trooper Colin M Meddows-Taylor, 105912, "C" Sqdn. (Special Air Service), aged 31. Killed in action, accidental detonation of a mine during Operation Melon in the Mapai district, Gaza Province, Mocambique.
1978
40450Lieutenant Nigel John Theron, 780929, "C" Sqdn. (Special Air Service), aged 30. Killed in action, accidental detonation of a mine during Operation Melon in the Mapai district, Gaza Province, Mocambique.
1978
40530Trooper Cornelius T Vermaak, 113702, "C" Sqdn. (Special Air Service), aged 21. Killed in action, accidental detonation of a mine during Operation Melon in the Mapai district, Gaza Province, Mocambique.
1978
40539Rifleman Johannes Lodewikus Stephanus Vorster, 87642, 4th Battalion (Rhodesia Regiment), aged 18. Died of wounds, received in action.
1979
43382Rifleman Andries Adriaan Smit Greyvenstein, 67416966KT, Stormberg Commando (South African Commandos), aged 30. Committed suicide, with a R1 Rifle, at Burgersdorp.
1979
39483Sergeant Bruce Hugh Johnston, PR111649, 8th Battalion (Rhodesia Regiment), aged 59. Died in Vehicle Accident, whilst deploying on the Rusape/Juliasdale road near the Brondsbury Park Hotel, on the edge of the Makonl Tribal Trust Lands, Op Thrasher.
1979
39528District Security Assistant Simon Kasket, PR104068, Keep Protection (Internal Affairs), aged 20. Died on active service.
1979
32223Rifleman Willem Adriaan Nel, 74842519KV, Soutpansburg Commando (South African Commandos), aged 56. Died of a heart attack while attending a weekend camp at Messina Training Ground.
1979
38736Patrol Officer Anthony Michael Oliver, 10433, Uniform (British South Africa Police), aged 21. Died in Shooting Incident, shotgun accidentally discharged in the rear of the vehicle he was in.
1979
32607Trooper Gregory Ernest Raaff, 74496027BG, 1 Special Service Battalion (South African Armoured Corps), aged 20. Died of injuries, at Oshakati Hospital, received when he was crushed between 2 vehicles at Ruacana.
1981
29617Corporal Donald Brooks, 77339554BG, 3 South African Infantry Battalion (South African Infantry Corps), aged 19. On 4th December 1980 his company was based at Ondongwa. With only a few days left to serve, two sections of Donald's platoon were ordered to escort one or two buses filled with PF`s and Contractor's kids on school holiday from the states. They picked the buses up from the airbase at Ondag`s escorting them to Oshikati. On the return trip the 2 Buffels were ambushed by a large group of terrorists. A RPG hit the roll bar above Donald's head, fatally wounding him. The 2nd buffel took a RPG through the side killing two other soldiers. Everybody on Donald's buffel was wounded. The drivers (who were never decorated for their bravery) got both of those buffels out the kill zone with tyres blown out and wounded. Donald's buffel was driven to the airbase and the 2nd buffel to the base in the town. He was from Johannesburg area and believed to be an only child.
1982
30358Trooper Herman Fourie, 78471182BG, 1 Special Service Battalion (South African Armoured Corps), aged 20. Killed in action, in Northern Ovamboland, together with two twin brothers, during Operation Handsak, when they detonated an anti-personnel landmine which had been planted on top of an anti-tank landmine. They were inspecting a Buffel of the Support Troop which had hit a landmine while out on patrol the previous day.
1982
31182Lance Corporal Ockert Petrus Kruger, 79241576BG, 1 Special Service Battalion (South African Armoured Corps), aged 18. Killed in action, in Northern Ovamboland, together with his twin brother and another Trooper during Operation Handsak, when they detonated an anti-personnel landmine which had been planted on top of an anti-tank landmine. They were inspecting a Buffel of the Support Troop which had hit a landmine while out on patrol the previous day.
1982
31185Lance Corporal Pieter Kruger, 79308268BG, 1 Special Service Battalion (South African Armoured Corps), aged 18. Killed in action, in Northern Ovamboland, together with his twin brother and another Trooper during Operation Handsak, when they detonated an anti-personnel landmine which had been planted on top of an anti-tank landmine. They were inspecting a Buffel of the Support Troop which had hit a landmine while out on patrol the previous day.
1983
32213Lance Corporal Japie Louis Nel, 78274552BG, 8 South African Infantry Battalion (Soutpansberg Military Area), aged 20. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, on the Malaladrift Road, about 46km outside Messina.
1983
32481Rifleman Lovemore Phakati, 81537284, H.M.S.A.S. Protea (Soutpansberg Military Area), aged 19. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, on the Malaladrift Road, about 46km outside Messina.
1986
29765Rifleman William Krohne, 81891913SCC, 102 Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 19. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned, in Northern Owamboland.
1987
31782Rifleman Moses Pule Rutjindo, 83886697SWH, 102 Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 20. Died of malaria, contracted during operations, in Southern Angola.
1989
33140Corporal Cornelius Johannes Stroebel, 77387959BT, 35 Sqdn. (Regiment Hillcrest), aged 28. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, Buffalo crash near Swartwater, Botswana.
1989
33442Sergeant Anton Bela Van Der Merwe, 82379330BT, 4 South African Infantry Battalion (Regiment Hillcrest), aged 23. Died in Military Vehicle Accident, Buffalo crash near Swartwater, Botswana.
1990
35973Detective Warrant Officer J S Gerhard Maxatasi, S153279W, Free State (South African Police), aged 26. Stabbed to death by natives.
1991
41814Rifleman Stephanus Johannes Lues, 87484960BG, 4 South African Infantry Battalion (South African Infantry Corps), aged 19. Died in Private Vehicle Accident, on the Witbank Highway while on a weekend pass.
1996
34047Sergeant Morris Barnard, 0454160-0, 17 Dist (Graaff Reinet) CE Div (South African Police), aged 30. Died on active service.
1996
37229Sergeant Monja Prinsloo, 0453624-0, 25 Dist (Bloemfontein) OFS Div (South African Police), aged 22. Died on active service.
2004
35007Detective Inspector Charles Moore Hutt, 439073-3, Richmond District (South African Police Service), aged 54. Died of carcinoma of colon.
2012
42799Warrant Officer Mankanye, 491793-6, South African Police Service. Died as a result of their duties.
2013
42875Constable Pute, 7106100-2, South African Police Service. Died as a result of their duties.
2016
43049Sergeant Goodwin, 0536669-1, South African Police Service. Died as a result of their duties.

We will remember them.

Deaths on 20 January by Year