Stories

Wingnut, Johan se bynaam, was ons MAG gunner gewees. Hy het altyd so 'n skaam glimlaggie gehad, stil ou, goeie vriend. Uit op 'n patrollie het ons 'n TB gestig en later rondom patrollie gestap voor ons na die TB terugge…

Ian, my mate. It's been so many years and I still think about you all the time and wonder how you doing in heaven. I remember when we used to ride bikes, go fishing and galavant around the streets of Glenwood when we we…

'Van' was killed by a landmine on horsebak on the pipline running from the Charlie water tower west in the direction of Oshandi. He was last in line of the troups and his horse stepped on the mine behind us.

Mike Bondesio (who died of a heart attack at the controls of a SAAF Shack in 1983). He managed to limp his crippled MkIII of 203 Squadron into Lisbon on 2 Griffons and one Viper - having to do some fast footwork to avoi…

Just a correction on your information. It is not 33 Squadron but 35 Squadron.

James Carter Fidkin - through his son James Fidkin, was my Great Great Grandfather. Proud to know he gave his life for others Cozza

Dit is al 2012 en nog bly die herinneringe. Dit is September 1982. Ons is pas klaar met TEIN opleiding op Modderfontein buite Potch en is terug by 3 SAI hoofbasis waar ons in tente langs die peradegrond bly en wag om gr…

Price was a great guy that wanted to help someone in need. The enemy trapped him -sad. This is how I remember him the guy that always wanted to help, cleaning the 90 canon, digging foxholes, checking engine oils etc. We…

Died of wounds sustained on the gun position in action near the Lomba River due to catastrophic failure on the gun during high fire tempo engagements on 20 th September 1987 during Ops Modular. 6 other Battery members w…

Koos was killed in a contact near Etale on the 19th of June,1980.He was in SwaSpes,berede,plt 17. jc vd westhuizen

Theuns baby girl was born on 22 April 1988. She was named after her father - Antonia. Her first born is on the way and the suspected dat is 17 December 2012.

John and I dated in 1976. Met him at Flop Laats parents home in Lindbro Park on they night he and his mates celebrated receiving their pupil's license.He rescued me from nearly being drowned by all the holligans! I reme…

This was told to me by the ops medic who was with them. On the morning of 4 February 1988 Lt Mc Cann and his team were waiting at the edge of a shona somewhere in the vicinity of Eenhana. He no sooner stood up in the Ca…

At 19, Pete was too young to be taken away from us. I realize that both our parents carried a far heavier weight that either of them ever let on, and managed to convince both myself and my sister that restarting our liv…

Date of Birth 20.2.1944 Squardon 24 A L du Toit

My grandfather, Captain AEM Norton DSO (1869-1922), 4th South Australian Imperial Bushmen's Contingent (4SAIB), returned from South Africa in 1900 with the Bible (in Dutch) of a PR Botha of Blauw Vallei. The date on the…

I did duty in 1975-6 and was trained during basics by Sgt Jan Furstenburg. A tough instructor but what he taught us kept me alive through to 1984 when my duty ended. I have repeatedly stated that I would enter any battl…

Ek was daar die aand, sal Delange nooit vergeet.

He was actually shot and killed was not in the ratel Flip van Wyk

Chris died when the Harvard he flew (7 Squadron, Cape Town) hit the ground during a training excercise for foward air controllers (FAC) at Oudshorn during April 1975.

I was in Echo Comp in 4 SAI "Inligting" based at Tsinsabis at the time. Our commanding officer was Capt Goles. L/cpl Evans and his peloton was based in Etosha. It was our first casualty, I still remember the sadness and…

My father was in the British Army and worked with the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police Force during the hand-over to independence in the early 1960s. He was based in Mafeking and Gaberones. He was interested in war grav…

He was my best friend. He was conducting the second "Donkermaan" sortie in the same evening, in Southern Angola. His wingman was Jan Mienie. Reports from our troops on the ground say that they heard 2 explosions. Not su…

Anton Kruger, was a Parabat from 1 Parachute Regiment and shot down in the Puma SE of Cuvelai on 9th August 1982. He was from Middelburg Transvaal which might lead to the information showing him as from 4 SAI. The curre…

He was the first guy we lost from B company (July 80 intake). It was in a land mine explosion. I always liked talking to him at Oshikati, although I was not in his section and a rifleman we just clicked. The day he got…

See John Drakes dedication for the story of what happened on that day, they both got killed together. It was an ambush while they were on section patrol.

Hans was killed by antie personel land mine while we were on patrol.

Jorry was killed by antie personel landmine,while we were on patrol.he was from 3SAI PL 4 Alfa komp.

Full name is Douglas G Hinds and he died in April 1976 in the Caprivi border strip.

Deon Schutte was my Sisters fiance, he was based out near the Mozambique border. Apparently one of his coloured troops who was denied his medicines earlier in the day took another troop hostage. Deon was woken up in the…

I think the Guy that was killed with Braam was 'Brecher' and the guy who lost his leg in the same battle was Middleton, I think from Durban.

Sappers Willemse and von Schmettau , I have never forgotton you guys , still have vivid memories on the train taking us to a place we should never have been , issued with green uniforms and takkies , dog tags with only…

I trained with Marius in Zeerest, he was really an exceptional character - for his team leading, and fortitude. We got separated early in training, but stayed in touch, he always maintained I was the only gunner to hit…

I knew Marius - I was in Bravo company - 90mm Ratels, He was a really good friend. :/ - I remember the asccident, it still saddens me.

Wallace and I did our training together as sapper at Bossiespruit near Kroonstad in 1986. I think he was in Delta company, I did not know him personally but everybody knew who each other in the camp was as we were only…

William Raymond Luiters was buried at the Robertson Cementary in the heroes acre, he and my brother were good friends. I remember him and his sister from visiting our home very often.I called my brother today and the fi…

I would also like to know who this Barnard is, was he the guy that did JL's with me in 1986 at Bossiesspruit near Kroonstad.I later heard that he died in a mine accident but I could never confirm it. Barrie's was part o…

I remember this well. All these guys were in my unit. We were split up to work at different hospitals during hospital phase of our ops medic training. The week before this happened I was at the hospital that L/CPL Kladi…

Middag sal nooit vergeet toe ek en Carstens met ons matrasse moes strand toe gaan op sondag r&r. terwyl almal swem moes ek en hy slaap op ons matrasse omdat ons aan die slaap geval het met n sessie in n klaskamer.dit wa…

Leon Grobler detonated an anti-personell mine on 20 February 1980 near Tsumeb which severed his femoral artery. He was subsequenty taken to 1 Military Hospital where he died from blood-loss on 27 February after the woun…