Stories

06 Sep 1980: 71536924BV Rifleman Alfred Gordon Smith from the Kimberley Regiment was killed in a military vehicle accident at Sishen. He was 58.

02 Sep 1978: Rifleman Arau Shilemba from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment was Killed in Mozambique while on operations when he accidentally walked into a helicopter tail rotor. He was serving with D-Squadron SAS (as the Reconn…

02 Sep 1982: Two members from 5 Maintenance Unit were grievously burned in an accidental petrol explosion at Ondangwa on 30 August 1982. Both members were evacuated to 1 Military Hospital Burn Unit where they succumbed…

02 Sep 1984: 76586106BT Able Seaman Crispin John Canner from SAS Unity died from a gunshot wound when he was accidentally shot by a fellow soldier while standing guard duty at the Slangkop Radio Station. He was 24.

I have just retutrned from a trip to Angola and this included Cassinga. Its a long story and there is not space here for it. I believe I have found the grave of Human. I did GPS the position as well. How do I get hold o…

MY BYNAAM WAS ANNA VAN GRAAFF RIENET EK HET SAAM MET LT LIGHT EN SERSANT SEYER GEDIEN VIR ONGEFEER NEGE MAANDE IN SEKTOR 10 ONS WAS OP MANNENE BASIS VIR GERUIME TYD .EK HET DAWID GEDIEN HY WAS N BAIE FISIEKE STERK PERSO…

BORROS DIT IS ANNA EK WAS MAG GUNNER SAAM MET PRINSIE JOOSTE EN SEYER WAS SAAM MET ONS EK EN SEYER HET KLEIMORS OPGESTEL ON WAS SAAM MET LT LIGHT RICHARD EN SY MAAITJIE JY WEET WIE DIT WAS ON HET SOO VER NOG SOONTOE GEL…

That day we set out on patrol 24.12.77 was just a normal days work for us. We set up a position hoping to ambush, but it ended up us been ambushed. I was laying next to beakers. I think he was carrying the Bren gun. Wel…

On the day he died I was present, sitting with him until the chopper arrived...

Have just come across this site and details. I was also involved in that accident. Luckily only sustained minor scrape and bumbs. I still remember this night. Accident was due to civilian vehicle that drove into the onc…

I was in Ops modular and I off-loaded Cpl Van heerden and the medics tried in vain to save his life. I gave him blood direct from my arm into his veins. A sad tough day for me. I salute you corporal. Would love to meet…

Gustav matriculated in 1979 at Hoerskool Upington. We were class mates. He studied at the University of the Free State and was doing a camp with the Regiment University of the Free State at the time of his death, second…

Sktr JWC Scheepers was in our Platoon (PL 3. F Coy, 5 SAI Bn). Intake 07071982. He died whilst running our very first 2,4 km race. He was a short distance ahead of me, when he collapsed and fell to the ground. Our 2IB L…

Horrifying accident just outside Mariental.I was the BSM of 44 BTY and the accident claimed 3 lifes and 7 casavacs. Drunk cattle truck driver causes the accident.2 Buffels was involved in the accident and all off the de…

My name is Ann, JIT sister in law. Jannie will always be in our hearts. We often think and say a prayer for him. He was a lovely caring husband to Janet and loved his kids. He was a very good pilot and this tragic accid…

Lt Dewald (Wallie) Marais as the pilot and his navigator, 2nd Lt Owen Doyle, were killed on 14 March 1979 when their aircraft, Canberra 452, crashed in Angola after a low level Alpha bomb attack on Ediva at 17h00 as par…

On the 11 October 1982 while serving with Mechanised Leadership Wing. Died of accidental injuries, at Oshivello, during a weapons familiarisation accident. A supposedly "safe" foreign grenade exploded and killed several…

Johan was n nice mens ons was saam van St 7 tot in St 10. Sy bynaam op skool was tant Rapie. Hy het so onnidig gesterf deur n onsinnige gespeel Johan rip George Cronje

Hi John, Japie was a TSC(tiffie) at 61Mech and in his first year. He was killed during a vehicle accident whilst a convoy was en route to Tsumeb from Omuthya and a buffel overturned halfway there.

I knew Eric quite well as I was his civvy Dominee in Walvisaai Meersig. He was a wonderful person and we remember him and his wife Elna fondly Dieks Theron

Terrence Phillipson - we served together at Charlie coy Omega - 201Bn formely 31Bn. One of the fittest and most fearless of fighters I ever met. The last time I saw Terrence was at his wedding and shortly thereafter we…

i remember this day so well, i was also there and remember.

J.de Vos was van 4SAI. Grensdiens 1977 in Ovambo by Umungelome Basis. Hy en drie ander Sers Furstenburg, kpl Muller en Lourens het omgekom Sept/Okt 1977 deur eiemagte se vuur. Ek dink de Vos was van Swellendam se omgewi…

We were in the wrong place at the wrong time! Those who were with us that late afternoon in Angola will know what I mean! K.Tappan

RIP Harry. Dink nog steeds aan jou elke dag na soveel jaar. Ek sal kom groet sodra ek eendag in die hemel kom, tot dan, als is nog cool hier onder.

On 27th June 1988 Calueque dam was bombed by 4 Cuban piloted MiG-23s. Each dropped 2 parachute-retarded bombs. 12 South African soldiers were killed including Rfn Johannes Matheus Strauss Venter aged 19 who was a member…

I HAVE A FULL HUNTER POCKET WATCH WITH INITIALS LPB ON TIHEFRONT AND INSIDE IS L.P.BOSHOFF VAN VROUTJIE 29-12-34I IT IS AN ELGIN AND THE SERIAL NO. IS12213218. I HAVE CHECKED THIS AND IT WAS 1906.. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW…

I was one of the persons that had to search for the two sections when they did not return to base camp in April 1976 and lifted Dougies body out of the vehicle later that evening. He and three other young South Africans…

My name is Hennie Bosman. Was stationed in Katima the night the attack took place. Rude awakaning about 1am in the morning with shells expoding around us. We were right next to the Heli Pad. 4 ops with our Radar set. Wh…

PIERRE AND I SERVED IN 1SAI IN BLOEM HE WAS MY CORP IN 1982 WE SERVED TOGETHER HE WAS NEVER COLD DAY OR NIGHT HOW COLD HE NEVER WORE A JACKET PIERRE BLESS YOU BROTHER WHEN I CLARED OUT HE BECAME PF AND MADE SERGANT ITS…

Simon Lodewyk, seun van Dani??l Jacobus Christoffel (Daniel) * Des 1845 Boer, ??? Groenrivier, Nylstroom 8.7.1906 (60.7) (Daniel is as 56 jarige gevange geneem tydens die Anglo-Boere Oorlog op 5 Junie 1900 by Waterval.…

Petrus Johannes * 18.9.1837 Clanwilliam ??? "Syferfontein" 1901 (64.-) x Elizabetha ESTERHUIZEN * Kp ??? "Syferfontein" 4.2.1928 en sy seun Petrus Jaohannes * c. 1876 ??? 11.6.1900 A Bekker

Frederik Francois gebore op die plaas Tweefontein, Frankfort ???1901 Die seun van Frederik Francois DEYSEL * 8.2.1847 Winburg 23.4.1848 ??? Tweefontein, Frankfort 25.1.1912 (64.11) woon op die plaas Tweefontein, distrik…

I was in the Jan 83 intake and remember this incident - Very sad. glenn

Can you help me I am H C van Rensburg and was born in 1973 my father PJ van Rensburg was born in 1948 do any person now who was this persons history my e mail hendrikc90@yahoo.com HC van Rensburg

His gravesite is unknown but his name does feature in ANZAC Square, Brisbane, Australia Richard Stent

Trooper James William Lynd was a New Zealander. His mother was Emma Jackson from the Jackson whalers in the South Island of New Zealand. He joined the Queensland Contingent and died near Pienaar River - wounded on the n…

You have this individuals initials wrong, his correct name was Johan Lemmer Caparus Ferreira. He was captured along with Van der Mescht by Swapo just before sunup on 19 February 1978 in Ovamboland, but unlike Van der Me…

Bobsfamily have lifted his remains and donated the tomb stone to Maritzburg College. We had a fitting unveiling at the College chapel on Saterday 25th of May 2013. His Dad and brothers were there. It was such a fantasti…

Bob was a wonderful chap. I have visited his grave and praised God for his life. I knew him at 5 Recce. More some other time.