On This Day

On This Day — 28 December

We remember those who died in service on this day:

1900

47642Burgher Carl Friedrich Martin, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces). Killed in action, Heidelberg.

1900

45469Burgher Jacobus Petrus Johannes Nortje, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Helvetia.

1901

47170Burgher Louis Matthys Brink, Boer Forces, aged 23. Killed in action, Mafeking.

1901

46827Burgher Josias S Lybrecht De Kock, Bethal Commando (Boer Forces), aged 27. Killed in action, Vlakfontein, Middelburg (WIitbank).

1901

46417Burgher Nicolaas Johannes Geldenhuys, Boer Forces, aged 24. Killed in action, Bezuidenhoutskraal.

1901

45121Burgher Arnoldus Fieldcornet Renike, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Mafeking.

1901

45115Burgher Arnoldus M Reynecke, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Mafeking.

1901

44105Burgher J G Van Wyk, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Aliwal North Hosp.

1901

44090Burgher Johannes Gerhardus Van Wyk, Boer Forces, aged 28. Killed in action, Aliwal Noord Hosp.

1901

43548Burgher Venter, Boer Forces, aged 20. Killed in action, Waaikraal, KP.

1914

28782Private Mark Wood, 1st Field Amb. (South African Medical Corps), aged 37. Died of chronic nephritis and heart failure.

1915

11867Private Alexander Kay, 3192, 15th Bn. (Highland Light Infantry). Killed in action.

1916

2298Lieutenant James Powell Bothamley, 2nd (South African Rifles), aged 45. Died of blackwater fever.

1916

5843Company Sergeant Major Thomas Doherty, MT/1055, M.t. (South African Service Corps), aged 42. Died of cerebral embolism.

1916

5997Gunner Joseph Draper, A/6490, Cape Garrison Artillery, aged 44. Died of heart disease.

1916

14400Ox Driver Dick Madimetsha, 13324, South African Native Labour Bureau. Died of phthisis, at Morogoro.

1916

14553Andries Mahloele, 11244, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.

1916

14935Private Or Mangobi Mangobe, M/12, Rhodesia Native Regiment. Died of malaria.

1916

15467Corporal Henry John Newton Mate, 1429, 6th Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 25. Died of dysentery.

1916

22727Donkey Leader William Senzangabani, 15682, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.

1917

5530Private Michael Daniel Delport, 34, 1st (South African Rifles), aged 21. Died of blackwater fever.

1917

13295Private Jim Lekgoa, 12225, 21st Bn. (South African Native Labour Corps). Died of tuberculosis.

1917

17081Private Jonathan Mokali, 23012, 39th Bn. (South African Native Labour Corps), aged 24. Died of alcohol poisoning.

1917

19590Bearer Frank Raman Paliem, 434, 2nd Coy. (South African Indian Bearer Corps). Died of dysentery, at Durban.

1917

21003Private Jameson Ramakone, 17922, South African Native Labour Corps. Died of spinal meningitis.

1917

21188Pilot 1st Class Henry Rawson, Pilotage Authority, No. 1 Pilot Boat "Alfred H. Read" (Liverpool). (Lighthouse and Pilotage Authorities), aged 32. Killed by mine.

1917

23931Private Richard St. Ledger, 896, 10th (South African Horse). Died of malaria.

1918

1264Private Montague Roy Clifford Bass, 18988, 4th Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 22. Died of cerebral spinal meningitis.

1918

2496Driver Charlie Brandt, HT/448, No. 2 Coy (Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport), aged 33. Died of multiple fractures.

1918

6257Private Dulani, 1984, Northern Rhodesia Police. Died on active service.

1920

8113Lieutenant Frederick James Gibson, 6th Bn. (The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment), aged 30. Died on active service.

1939

24948Gunner Cornelis Michael Teubes, 187, "B" Bty. (South African Artillery), aged 24. Died on active service.

1940

6674Constable Enock, 10359, British South African Police. Died on active service.

1940

21793Flight Lieutenant Louis John Rooney, 39955, 83 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force), aged 25. Died in Aircraft Accident, Hampden I P2097, crashed on return from operational flight over Bordeaux, France. Took off from Scampton. Crashed 0125 at Appleford Bridge 4 miles SEW of Abingdon Berkshire.

1940

25156Gunner Archibald Field Thomson, 89722, 5 Lt. Bty. (South African Artillery), aged 18. Died on active service.

1940

26890Private Gert J Van Niekerk, 142315, Technical Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 30. Died on active service.

1941

3547Air Mechanic Gustav Carel Celliers, 97851, South African Air Force. Committed suicide, at Dar es Salaam.

1941

27873Sergeant Archibald Campbell Watt, 777903, 49 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). Killed in action, in Hampden AE419 (EA-T), at 09.30hrs on the morning of Sunday 28th, Group orders rattled in requesting 20 of the squadron's Hampdens for an attack on the synthetic rubber plant at Huls. Take-off began at 17.30hrs with all aircraft becoming airborne without any problems. The attack was carried out by 81 Hampdens of 5 Group and the bombing results were reported as good. Group lost 4 Hampden crews from the raid; 2 from 144 Sqdn, 1 from 408 Sqdn, and the fourth was AE419 flown by Sgt Archie Watt and crew. The bodies of this crew have never been recovered and it is believed that the aircraft came down in the sea.

1941

28799Sergeant Jack William Woodall, 777708, 144 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), aged 19. Killed in action, in Hampden Mk.B.I P1295 PL-L, from North Luffenham to bomb Bayer and Buna strategic chemical production facilities in Huls in the Ruhr Valley. Presumed lost in the North Sea.

1942

2236Carpenter Henry Botha, S.S. Melmore Head (Belfast) (Merchant Navy), aged 36. At 22.02 hours on 28 Dec, 1942, U-225 fired torpedoes at the convoy ONS-154 north of the Azores and reported two ships sunk and two others probably sunk. In fact, the Melmore Head in station #113 was hit by two torpedoes and blew up and the stern torpedo hit the Ville de Rouen, which was later finished off by U-662 (Hermann). 13 crew members and one gunner from Melmore Head (Master William John Leinster) were lost.

1942

4066Sergeant Andrew Michael Coakey, 778785, 104 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). Killed in action, Wellington Ic Z8908, attack on Tunis and Sousse.

1942

4141Corporal Izak Jacobus Petrus Coetzee, 241521, Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles, S.A. Forces, aged 22. Accidentally killed, at Central Army Transit Depot Pretoria.

1942

9775Fireman and Trimmer Warsuma Hersi, S.S. Treworlas (St. Ives) (Merchant Navy), aged 28. Died on active service.

1942

12396Private Abduraham Kleinsmith, M/11616, Indian and Malay Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 32. Died whilst a POW.

1942

14777Private Aaron Maleti, N/31410, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 29. Died of injuries, received in lorry accident.

1943

2913Sergeant Henry Edmund Bryce-Jeffery, 778889, 14 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). Killed in action, Marauder I FK133, failed to return from operations in Levant area.

1943

17613Major Edward Maurice Moskovitch, EC/2677, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force), aged 47. Died on active service.

1943

22272Lance Corporal Sass, C/272631, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 31. Died after discharge.

1943

27605Sergeant Walker, 213763V, General Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 39. Died on active service.

1944

7292Lieutenant Michael Flynn, 207016V, 2 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 21. Killed in action, shot down by flak West of Lugo, in Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX #MH557.

1944

8464Gunner Moses Christian Gough, C/566279V, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 18. Died on active service.

1944

12346Corporal Archibald Kitching, 278709V, South African Medical Corps. Died on active service.

1944

21568Private Christian Roberts, C/237311, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 32. Died after discharge.

1945

1058Private Petrus Baphuthi, N/37143, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis.

1945

23882Corporal Paul Stephanus Spies, 185934, Q Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 50. Died on active service.

1946

27223Private Veli, N/38900, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died on active service.

1971

29539Seaman Johannes Petrus Gerhardus Botha, 69210524, SAS Simonsberg (South African Navy), aged 18. Died in a Private Motor Vehicle Accident, between Reddersberg and Bloemfontein. Vehicle struck a bridge and overturned.

1972

35080Johann Jonck, 919833-4, 1a Dist (Cape Town) CW Div (South African Police), aged 25. Died on active service.

1979

38902Trooper Gary Thomas Banks, 646305, Support Commando, 1st Battalion (Rhodesian Light Infantry), aged 20. Died on active service, cerebral malaria, contracted on an external op in Zambia.

1979

29780Sapper Mark John Cockcroft, 77509859, 1 Construction Regiment (South African Corps of Engineers), aged 18. Died in a Private Motor Vehicle Accident, on the Kroonstad - Henneman road, while on a weekend pass.

1979

38561Constable Alois MacHokoto, 21026, Support Unit (British South Africa Police), aged 31. Killed in action, in a contact in the Marandellas area, Op Thrasher.

1983

35353Constable Marco Laubser, W405772H, Gauteng (South African Police), aged 19. Died on active service.

1983

32270Trooper Norman Walter Niemand, 82475815BG, 1 Special Service Battalion (South African Armoured Corps), aged 19. Killed in action, when his Ratel 90 (call sign 33C) was struck by a Soviet 122mm BM-21 Katyusha Rocket during an enemy bombardment whilst in laager with an Artillery Section about 13 km East of Cahama, during Op Askari.

1986

29791Private Hein Pontius Coetzee, 84525856, 1 Maintenance Unit (South African Ordnance Services Corps), aged 18. Died in a Private Motor Vehicle Accident, on the freeway near Kempton Park. Head on collision with another vehicle.

1994

41895Warrant Officer Class II Phillip Koen, 75629675PE, Group 8, Army HQ Unit (South African Infantry Corps), aged 52. Died of heart attack, at his home, in East London, while on leave.

1995

36015Detective Sergeant Baliwa Mbili, 0601713-4, Muldersdrift (South African Police), aged 40. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

1997

33972Sergeant Willem Hendrik Adams, 445968-7, Grahamstown (South African Police), aged 28. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

1997

32530Lance Corporal Petrus Plaatjie, 87765103, Grp 36 HQ (South African Infantry Corps), aged 35. Died in Military Vehicle Accident,at Zastron. Samil 20 drove over him.

2000

35884Sergeant Mzikayise Atwell Masondo, 624365-7, Mpumalanga (South African Police), aged 25. Died in a Motor Vehicle Accident.

2002

32701Rifleman Johannes Roberts, 92950971, 9 South African Infantry Battalion (South African Infantry Corps), aged 29. While on peacekeeping duties in Burundi, he drowned in the base swimming pool at Bujumbura.

We will remember them.

On This Day — 28 December

We remember those who died in service on this day:

- 1900 47642 — Burgher Carl Friedrich Martin, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces). Killed in action, Heidelberg.

- 1900 45469 — Burgher Jacobus Petrus Johannes Nortje, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Helvetia.

- 1901 47170 — Burgher Louis Matthys Brink, Boer Forces, aged 23. Killed in action, Mafeking.

- 1901 46827 — Burgher Josias S Lybrecht De Kock, Bethal Commando (Boer Forces), aged 27. Killed in action, Vlakfontein, Middelburg (WIitbank).

- 1901 46417 — Burgher Nicolaas Johannes Geldenhuys, Boer Forces, aged 24. Killed in action, Bezuidenhoutskraal.

- 1901 45121 — Burgher Arnoldus Fieldcornet Renike, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Mafeking.

- 1901 45115 — Burgher Arnoldus M Reynecke, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Mafeking.

- 1901 44105 — Burgher J G Van Wyk, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Aliwal North Hosp.

- 1901 44090 — Burgher Johannes Gerhardus Van Wyk, Boer Forces, aged 28. Killed in action, Aliwal Noord Hosp.

- 1901 43548 — Burgher Venter, Boer Forces, aged 20. Killed in action, Waaikraal, KP.

- 1914 28782 — Private Mark Wood, 1st Field Amb. (South African Medical Corps), aged 37. Died of chronic nephritis and heart failure.

- 1915 11867 — Private Alexander Kay, 3192, 15th Bn. (Highland Light Infantry). Killed in action.

- 1916 2298 — Lieutenant James Powell Bothamley, 2nd (South African Rifles), aged 45. Died of blackwater fever.

- 1916 5843 — Company Sergeant Major Thomas Doherty, MT/1055, M.t. (South African Service Corps), aged 42. Died of cerebral embolism.

- 1916 5997 — Gunner Joseph Draper, A/6490, Cape Garrison Artillery, aged 44. Died of heart disease.

- 1916 14400 — Ox Driver Dick Madimetsha, 13324, South African Native Labour Bureau. Died of phthisis, at Morogoro.

- 1916 14553 — Andries Mahloele, 11244, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.

- 1916 14935 — Private Or Mangobi Mangobe, M/12, Rhodesia Native Regiment. Died of malaria.

- 1916 15467 — Corporal Henry John Newton Mate, 1429, 6th Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 25. Died of dysentery.

- 1916 22727 — Donkey Leader William Senzangabani, 15682, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.

- 1917 5530 — Private Michael Daniel Delport, 34, 1st (South African Rifles), aged 21. Died of blackwater fever.

- 1917 13295 — Private Jim Lekgoa, 12225, 21st Bn. (South African Native Labour Corps). Died of tuberculosis.

- 1917 17081 — Private Jonathan Mokali, 23012, 39th Bn. (South African Native Labour Corps), aged 24. Died of alcohol poisoning.

- 1917 19590 — Bearer Frank Raman Paliem, 434, 2nd Coy. (South African Indian Bearer Corps). Died of dysentery, at Durban.

- 1917 21003 — Private Jameson Ramakone, 17922, South African Native Labour Corps. Died of spinal meningitis.

- 1917 21188 — Pilot 1st Class Henry Rawson, Pilotage Authority, No. 1 Pilot Boat "Alfred H. Read" (Liverpool). (Lighthouse and Pilotage Authorities), aged 32. Killed by mine.

- 1917 23931 — Private Richard St. Ledger, 896, 10th (South African Horse). Died of malaria.

- 1918 1264 — Private Montague Roy Clifford Bass, 18988, 4th Regt. (South African Infantry), aged 22. Died of cerebral spinal meningitis.

- 1918 2496 — Driver Charlie Brandt, HT/448, No. 2 Coy (Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport), aged 33. Died of multiple fractures.

- 1918 6257 — Private Dulani, 1984, Northern Rhodesia Police. Died on active service.

- 1920 8113 — Lieutenant Frederick James Gibson, 6th Bn. (The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment), aged 30. Died on active service.

- 1939 24948 — Gunner Cornelis Michael Teubes, 187, "B" Bty. (South African Artillery), aged 24. Died on active service.

- 1940 6674 — Constable Enock, 10359, British South African Police. Died on active service.

- 1940 21793 — Flight Lieutenant Louis John Rooney, 39955, 83 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force), aged 25. Died in Aircraft Accident, Hampden I P2097, crashed on return from operational flight over Bordeaux, France. Took off from Scampton. Crashed 0125 at Appleford Bridge 4 miles SEW of Abingdon Berkshire.

- 1940 25156 — Gunner Archibald Field Thomson, 89722, 5 Lt. Bty. (South African Artillery), aged 18. Died on active service.

- 1940 26890 — Private Gert J Van Niekerk, 142315, Technical Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 30. Died on active service.

- 1941 3547 — Air Mechanic Gustav Carel Celliers, 97851, South African Air Force. Committed suicide, at Dar es Salaam.

- 1941 27873 — Sergeant Archibald Campbell Watt, 777903, 49 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). Killed in action, in Hampden AE419 (EA-T), at 09.30hrs on the morning of Sunday 28th, Group orders rattled in requesting 20 of the squadron's Hampdens for an attack on the synthetic rubber plant at Huls. Take-off began at 17.30hrs with all aircraft becoming airborne without any problems. The attack was carried out by 81 Hampdens of 5 Group and the bombing results were reported as good. Group lost 4 Hampden crews from the raid; 2 from 144 Sqdn, 1 from 408 Sqdn, and the fourth was AE419 flown by Sgt Archie Watt and crew. The bodies of this crew have never been recovered and it is believed that the aircraft came down in the sea.

- 1941 28799 — Sergeant Jack William Woodall, 777708, 144 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), aged 19. Killed in action, in Hampden Mk.B.I P1295 PL-L, from North Luffenham to bomb Bayer and Buna strategic chemical production facilities in Huls in the Ruhr Valley. Presumed lost in the North Sea.

- 1942 2236 — Carpenter Henry Botha, S.S. Melmore Head (Belfast) (Merchant Navy), aged 36. At 22.02 hours on 28 Dec, 1942, U-225 fired torpedoes at the convoy ONS-154 north of the Azores and reported two ships sunk and two others probably sunk. In fact, the Melmore Head in station #113 was hit by two torpedoes and blew up and the stern torpedo hit the Ville de Rouen, which was later finished off by U-662 (Hermann).  13 crew members and one gunner from Melmore Head (Master William John Leinster) were lost.

- 1942 4066 — Sergeant Andrew Michael Coakey, 778785, 104 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). Killed in action, Wellington Ic Z8908, attack on Tunis and Sousse.

- 1942 4141 — Corporal Izak Jacobus Petrus Coetzee, 241521, Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles, S.A. Forces, aged 22. Accidentally killed, at Central Army Transit Depot Pretoria.

- 1942 9775 — Fireman and Trimmer Warsuma Hersi, S.S. Treworlas (St. Ives) (Merchant Navy), aged 28. Died on active service.

- 1942 12396 — Private Abduraham Kleinsmith, M/11616, Indian and Malay Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 32. Died whilst a POW.

- 1942 14777 — Private Aaron Maleti, N/31410, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 29. Died of injuries, received in lorry accident.

- 1943 2913 — Sergeant Henry Edmund Bryce-Jeffery, 778889, 14 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). Killed in action, Marauder I FK133, failed to return from operations in Levant area.

- 1943 17613 — Major Edward Maurice Moskovitch, EC/2677, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force), aged 47. Died on active service.

- 1943 22272 — Lance Corporal Sass, C/272631, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 31. Died after discharge.

- 1943 27605 — Sergeant Walker, 213763V, General Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 39. Died on active service.

- 1944 7292 — Lieutenant Michael Flynn, 207016V, 2 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 21. Killed in action, shot down by flak West of Lugo, in Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX #MH557.

- 1944 8464 — Gunner Moses Christian Gough, C/566279V, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 18. Died on active service.

- 1944 12346 — Corporal Archibald Kitching, 278709V, South African Medical Corps. Died on active service.

- 1944 21568 — Private Christian Roberts, C/237311, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 32. Died after discharge.

- 1945 1058 — Private Petrus Baphuthi, N/37143, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis.

- 1945 23882 — Corporal Paul Stephanus Spies, 185934, Q Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 50. Died on active service.

- 1946 27223 — Private Veli, N/38900, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died on active service.

- 1971 29539 — Seaman Johannes Petrus Gerhardus Botha, 69210524, SAS Simonsberg (South African Navy), aged 18. Died in a Private Motor Vehicle Accident, between Reddersberg and Bloemfontein. Vehicle struck a bridge and overturned.

- 1972 35080 — Johann Jonck, 919833-4, 1a Dist (Cape Town) CW Div (South African Police), aged 25. Died on active service.

- 1979 38902 — Trooper Gary Thomas Banks, 646305, Support Commando, 1st Battalion (Rhodesian Light Infantry), aged 20. Died on active service, cerebral malaria, contracted on an external op in Zambia.

- 1979 29780 — Sapper Mark John Cockcroft, 77509859, 1 Construction Regiment (South African Corps of Engineers), aged 18. Died in a Private Motor Vehicle Accident, on the Kroonstad - Henneman road, while on a weekend pass.

- 1979 38561 — Constable Alois MacHokoto, 21026, Support Unit (British South Africa Police), aged 31. Killed in action, in a contact in the Marandellas area, Op Thrasher.

- 1983 35353 — Constable Marco Laubser, W405772H, Gauteng (South African Police), aged 19. Died on active service.

- 1983 32270 — Trooper Norman Walter Niemand, 82475815BG, 1 Special Service Battalion (South African Armoured Corps), aged 19. Killed in action, when his Ratel 90 (call sign 33C) was struck by a Soviet 122mm BM-21 Katyusha Rocket during an enemy bombardment whilst in laager with an Artillery Section about 13 km East of Cahama, during Op Askari.

- 1986 29791 — Private Hein Pontius Coetzee, 84525856, 1 Maintenance Unit (South African Ordnance Services Corps), aged 18. Died in a Private Motor Vehicle Accident, on the freeway near Kempton Park. Head on collision with another vehicle.

- 1994 41895 — Warrant Officer Class II Phillip Koen, 75629675PE, Group 8, Army HQ Unit (South African Infantry Corps), aged 52. Died of heart attack, at his home, in East London, while on leave.

- 1995 36015 — Detective Sergeant Baliwa Mbili, 0601713-4, Muldersdrift (South African Police), aged 40. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

- 1997 33972 — Sergeant Willem Hendrik Adams, 445968-7, Grahamstown (South African Police), aged 28. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

- 1997 32530 — Lance Corporal Petrus Plaatjie, 87765103, Grp 36 HQ (South African Infantry Corps), aged 35. Died in Military Vehicle Accident,at Zastron. Samil 20 drove over him.

- 2000 35884 — Sergeant Mzikayise Atwell Masondo, 624365-7, Mpumalanga (South African Police), aged 25. Died in a Motor Vehicle Accident.

- 2002 32701 — Rifleman Johannes Roberts, 92950971, 9 South African Infantry Battalion (South African Infantry Corps), aged 29. While on peacekeeping duties in Burundi, he drowned in the base swimming pool at Bujumbura.

We will remember them.

ON THIS DAY

28 December

On This Day — 28 December

Deaths on 28 December by Year