Stories

Lt Hannes du Toit was second in command of Combat Team 2, operating from Ratel IFV Two Zero Alpha. On 10 June, during the attack on Complex 8 near Chitumba, Angola, as part of Operation Sceptic, the Ratel IFV Two Zero,…

No.1662 also) Peter

I have reason to believe that E.M. Litkie was my Great Great Grandfather. I am doing research at the moment which I am sure will prove this. My Great Grandmother's name was Wilhelmina Christina Litkie, who was brought u…

I have reason to believe that E.c. Litkie is one of my ancestors. My Great Grandmother was Wilhelmina Christina Litkie, who was brought up in Kimberley. Edgar Charles Litkie: Born 1877 in Hornsey, Middlesex, England. Fa…

Du Toit was killed in action during operation Smoke Shell (1980). During a strike on a terrorist base in Angola some Ratels were shot up and disabled by AA guns in the base. He was maning the tail gun of his Rattle givi…

This person is Charles Hubert Blount, born 1856 in Evesham, Worcester, England. Father: John Hillier Blount Mother: Sarah Catherine Blount In 1881 he was living with his uncle, Josiah Yeomans Robins at Myton House, St N…

Johannes Lodewicus Pretorius was killed during Ops Askari, the attack on Cuvelai on 4 January 1984. The Ratel in which he was an occupant was knocked out by a T-54 tank. Wikus and five fellow soldiers were killed. His p…

THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE WE ALL WENT TO O'S POSITION FOR A PRAY PARADE AND ORDERS THE DAY BEFORE D-DAY. THEY HAD TO STAND GUARD OUTSIDE THE RATELS. WHILE I WAS ON RADIO DUTY, AT 30 ALPHA POSITION, THE SHOT WENT OFF. BILL…

Also listed on the 4 SAI Memorial. Assume he was attached to 61 Mech.

Also listed on the 4 SAI Memorial.

Charles BOYCE born 15 August 1874 at Great Houghton Northampton (UK) joined Royal Navy aged 15 on 08 Dec 1889. Joined HMS POWERFUL 08 June 1897 as Able Seaman, SGT (Seaman Gunner Torpedo), LTO (Leading Torpedo Operator)…

Aberline, Alexander McFarlane Number: 1225 Rank: Private [Pte] Unit: NSW Imperial Bushmen, F Coy Service: Colonial Military Forces Conflict: South Africa, 1899-1902 Date of Death: 04/10/1900 Place of Death: Lichtenburg…

Capt G Nel-Shawe, along with Cpl F Moolman were killed when their Aloutte III crashed near Lourenco Marques (Maputo) on the 8th January 1966.

Cpl F Moolman was killed, along with Capt. G Nel-Shawe, when their Alouette III crashed near Lourenco Marques (Maputo) on the 8th January 1966.

Lieutenant K Martin was killed when the Alouette II he was piloting hit high tension wires in du Toit's kloof on 17 th August 1962. Killed alongside him was the flight engineer Sgt AR Foote.

In December 1983 we were stationed at Okalongo base in Northern Namibia. It was a few weeks before we were due to finish initial National Service of 2 years. We were with B-Company, 8 SAI. On that day the platoon that v…

Cpl. Hannes Kriel was a SAAF photographer who died when Wasp No 86 of 22 Flight crashed off Milnerton while exercising for the welcoming of the new frigate SAS President Pretorius on the 25th September 1964. Trapped in…

My name is Andre and Pierre was my twin brother (non-identical). We were born in Grays hospital Pietermaritzburg, Natal the 23rd of February 1962 and lived in Natal for our first 12 years where after we moved to Bloemfo…

On 9 November 1987 during the SADF???s attack on FAPLA???s 16 Brigade, B Company of Combat Group Charlie was pinned down in front of the FAPLA positions and drawing heavy fire from assorted weapons A Ratel was surprised…

On 9 November 1987 during the SADFs attack on FAPLAs 16 Brigade, B Company of Combat Group Charlie was pinned down in front of the FAPLA positions and drawing heavy fire from assorted weapons A Ratel was surprised by a…

On 11 November 1987 the leading elements of Combat Group Charlie (4SAI) came under small-arms fire during the afternoon during their attack on FAPLA. They replied with their vehicle machine-guns, causing serious casualt…

On 9 November 1987 during the SADFs attack on FAPLAs 16 Brigade, B Company of Combat Group Charlie was pinned down in front of the FAPLA positions and drawing heavy fire from assorted weapons A Ratel was surprised by a…

From his gravestone in VTH Cemetery: "Buried in Kleinfontein Farm Burial Ground, Amersfort"

L/Cpl vd Merwe was killed while on patrol within 10 km from Ondangwa.Their Armour troup surprised SWAPO that morning in a chana. Nic was killed while directing fire from the turret of his armoured car. 9 SWAPO killed an…

Particulars regarding the late Sergeant Alexander Cheyne, Royal Warwickshire, Acting Quarter Master Sergeant of the Ceylon Contingent who died at Kroonstadt on the 1st June 1900. Enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders on th…

I was standing in the chow line that morning, it was hot and muggy, as always, standing in front of me was Van Heerden. Little did I know that later that day, I would be called out to attend the incident, as I was crew…

I was standing in the chow line that morning, it was hot and muggy, as always, standing in front of me was Van Heerden. Little did I know that later that day, I would be called out to attend the incident, as I was crew…

Shot dead during an exercise at Omatiya. During Training by a mortar schrapnel.

Captain Van Wyk was killed by a SWAPO hand grenade just east of SWASPES at Otavi. It was around April or May, forget the dates. I was Bike squad PL 11 pl sgt at the time, we were involved in the annual SWAPO invasion of…

24 Field Squadron mine hunt sw angola march 1987 wounded in ambush by either mortar or rifle grenade casavaced and later died

We were together from the first day. He was most of the time a cheerfull lad. Always found new ways to p$%* off the Cpl. He always took training with a spoon. He was my pole buddy and my room buddy. Golf coy lost a good…

My great grand father W.H.Holterman was mortally wounded at Spruefontain,a farm near Laingsburg in the South Cape.The grave on the farmland has been very well tended by the family decendants to this day.I visited the si…

As a Parabat occasionally stationed in Oshakati, I attended landmine orientation lectures given by Cpl. Yeo. He was an exceptionally gifted instructor whose knowledge of EOD's was second to none. His dedication and amia…

My late father Arthur Raymond Dearlove 1906-1972 wrote of his father?s and uncle?s generation: ? The chi1dren were born in most of the provinces of the Union and Rhodesia. Most were British citizens but some were born i…

Tragically killed in a friendly fire accident one evening when his platoon went to help another unit hit by a landmine. On approach a chef opened fire hitting Van Niekerk.

I remember the day very well. We, the 81mm mortars from Alpa and Bravo Company, were told we were going to be using an Airborne Observer for the first time. We fired our smoke bombs first (to check if we were on target)…

We were a section moving along the Yati Strip. A person who i idendified as an member of the SADF ran across the strip. The next minute all hell broke loose. It was later reported that we had been ambushed by 40 terr's.…

F.M. Newling was the brother of Daisy Newling, who married Hurtle Edwin de Mestre of the 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles. Son of Etienne Livingstone de Mestre of Terara, NSW Australia, Race horse owner and winner of…

Andrew died in my arms in Angola 10th June 1980. Operation Sceptic as Smokeshell took us 80km into Angola on counterinsurgency. One of the bravest of our group, he fought to stay alive for four hours after his fateful i…

This was a really special friend. The coolest dude. He smoked more cigarettes out of my packet than I did. It was a pleasure and he gave me a whole packet the day before his passing. He took all our guard duties the nig…