← Info · All Battalion Groups

61 Mechanised Battalion Group

Battalion Group
35 records in this database
Wikipedia

Part of

Formation Type Relationship Dates
South African Defence Force (1957–1994) — I South African Corps (1 SA Corps) — Battlegroups Category organic
army-oob:g11

Eras

Dates Force Role Status
1979-01-01 – 2005-12-31 SADF Mechanised Infantry (combined-arms battalion group) Regular Force
Formed 1978 as Battle Group Juliet (SWAPO counter-insurgency, Ovamboland); formally named 61 Mechanised Battalion (Group) January 1979; disbanded 2005 at Lohatla. "Battalion Group" reflects its integral combined-arms structure: two Ratel-20-mounted infantry companies, an armoured car/tank squadron (Eland/Ratel-90, later Olifant), an integral G5 howitzer artillery battery, an 81mm mortar platoon, an anti-tank platoon, and an anti-aircraft troop -- not merely units attached for one operation. Fought at the Battle of the Lomba River, 1987. No evidence found that it was ever subordinated to or redesignated as a "61 Mechanised Brigade" -- see the note on that separate OrgEntity record. Source

Personnel

35 on the roll across 5 Force tags — this organisation name is shared by more than one defence force / era.

All (35) South African Defence Force (21) South African National Defence Force (10) Blank Force (2) Union Defence Force (1) British forces (1)
# Last Name First Name Initials Rank Force Regiment Corps Date of Death
33750 Visagie Pieter Andreas P A Rifleman SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1987-09-16
33603 Van Staden Vickie V Gunner SANDF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1996-04-20
33401 Van Den Berg Johannes Jacobus J J Lance Corporal SADF South African Technical Services Corps 1982-04-15
32798 Santi M J Sergeant SANDF SA Navy South African Navy 1998-08-20
32797 Sandi Andile A Rifleman SANDF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1996-02-05
40849 Roberts Roland Henry R H Trooper SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1982-09-05
32652 Redelinghuis Johannes Everhardus J E Civilian — Civilian 1922-03-12
32651 Read Charles Alfred C A Fusilier UK Lancashire Fusiliers 1948-01-02
32650 Ravhengani R E Lance Corporal SANDF 1998-10-02
32649 Ravele M J Sergeant SANDF 1998-03-22
32648 Rautenbach Riaan Jakob R J Gunner SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1985-08-05
32135 Myburgh Gerhardus Johan G J Rifleman SADF 1 South African Infantry Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-09-17
31790 Mokgatle Joel J Rifleman SANDF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1996-01-21
31892 Mhlongo Seth Lebakeng S L Lance Corporal SANDF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1997-12-14
31852 Meiring Muller M Second Lieutenant SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1988-06-27
31716 Matwa W L Lance Corporal SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1994-04-17
31379 Losper Samuel Petrus S P Lieutenant SANDF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1999-07-07
31232 Lang Gavin G Rifleman SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1980-12-12
31209 Labuschagne Johann J Trooper SADF South African Armoured Corps 1987-02-07
31210 Labuschagne Johannes Alwyn J A Corporal UDF South African Armoured Corps 1950-03-30
31145 Kotze J Rifleman SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1979-08-11
31147 Kotze Jacob Johannes J J Private SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1981-04-09
31148 Kotze Johannes Tobias J T SADF 1984-07-18
31117 Koen Petrus Gerhardus Lourens P G L Second Lieutenant SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1988-09-18
40850 Kapiyawo Siriva R H — Unknown Unit 1978-01-01
30718 Hind Adriaan Hodgson A H Second Lieutenant SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1987-10-03
30599 Hall Peter P Rifleman SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1981-03-02
30454 Gache Robert Antonio R A Rifleman SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1989-11-18
30222 Ellis Sean Cochrane S C Gunner SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1988-09-16
30166 Du Toit Ignatuis J Lieutenant SANDF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1995-04-10
29971 De Jager Frederick F Trooper SADF South African Armoured Corps 1987-10-08
29749 Claasen Nicolaas Johannes N J Rifleman SANDF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1996-01-21
29492 Bonnet Petrus Johannes P J Private SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1980-06-01
29429 Bezuidenhout Christo Francois C F Gunner SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1983-03-06
29303 Badenhorst Joachim Jacobus J J Gunner SADF 61 Mechanised Battalion Group South African Infantry Corps 1984-03-20

Attached to this unit

Home unit recorded elsewhere, but attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group per their record.

Name Rank Home Unit Date of Death
Coetzee, Stephanus Francois Stephan Candidate Officer 25 Field Squadron (Army) 1981-11-05
Du Toit, Jan Daniels Gerhardus Rifleman Unknown 1982-04-16
Fourie, Jacobus Hendrik Rifleman Unknown 1980-06-10
Fourie, Johan Carel Rifleman Unknown 1983-12-31
Fourie, Johannes Jacobus Rifleman Unknown 1979-12-12
Fourie, Josef Johannes Lieutenant Gobabis Area Force Unit 1981-08-13
Hattingh, Gerhardus Petrus Cornelius Rifleman Unknown 1982-05-20
Hattingh, Peet Private Northern Transvaal Command Provost Unit 1984-09-02
Helm, Hermanus Christoffel Trooper 2 Special Service Battalion 1985-02-06
Hempstead, Graham Werner Rifleman Unknown 1977-04-09
Hough, Leonard Patrick Rifleman Unknown 1982-04-15
Hourquebie, Paul Sydney Warrant Officer Class II 3 South African Infantry Battalion 1998-05-25
Howard, George Michael Second Lieutenant Unknown 1987-10-16
Howes, John Mark Rifleman Unknown 1987-11-11
Howitson, John Alexander Anderson Captain Services School 1979-11-08
Howse, Matthew Colin Rifleman Unknown 1988-02-29
Jagga, Raymond Victor Lance Corporal School of Armour 1988-08-19
Kindness, Colin Watson Lance Corporal Unknown 1983-05-19
Lamb, Lance Corporal 1 South African Infantry Battalion 1988-08-27
Le Roux, Gabriel Pieter Rifleman Unknown 1983-12-31
Le Roux, Gordon Walter Graham Sapper Unknown 1976-12-10
Le Roux, Jean Air Mechanic Unknown 1971-01-19
Le Roux, Johan 35 Squadron 1972-11-24
Le Roux, Johannes Andries Rifleman Unknown 1987-10-09
Luiters, William Raymond Rifleman Unknown 1985-08-09
Lukas, Dawid Rifleman 1 SWA Specialist Unit 1982-04-26
Lukas, Filimon Special Constable South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (KOEVOET) 1984-04-08
Lukas, Fransiskus Special Constable South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (KOEVOET) 1988-03-09
Lukas, Martin Special Sergeant South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (KOEVOET) 1987-03-28
Lukas, Mathias Special Constable South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (KOEVOET) 1989-04-01
Myburgh, Gerhardus Johan Rifleman Unknown 1981-09-17
Myburgh, Hendrik Christiaan Johannes Lance Corporal 1 South African Infantry Battalion 1986-10-18
Myburgh, Isak Nel Rifleman Unknown 1977-01-26
Myburgh, Jan Johannes Herculas Christoffel Private TS Training Centre 1974-07-19
Niemand, Norman Walter Trooper 1 Special Service Battalion 1983-12-28
Niemand, Ocker Juergen Corporal 1 Special Service Battalion 1983-06-18
Nienaber, Andre Captain 1 Special Service Battalion 2001-12-07
Nienaber, Frank Lance Corporal Unknown 1979-08-18
Nortje, Cornelius Johannes Rifleman Unknown 1980-05-12
Nortje, Gerhardus Frederick Sergeant Unknown 1986-02-01
Nothnagel, Johan Rifleman Cfs 1980-12-01
Peterson, Marius Rifleman Unknown 1982-04-15
Petrus, James Flack Lance Corporal Unknown 1988-05-04
Petrus, James Flack Rifleman Unknown 1988-05-04
Petrus, James Flack Rifleman Unknown 1987-10-31
Pettit, Eaun Andrew Chapman Lance Corporal H Company 1981-04-02
Pfeffer, Hans Wolfgang Rifleman H.M.S.A.S. Protea 1980-07-29
Phakati, Lovemore Rifleman H.M.S.A.S. Protea 1983-01-20
Phala, Rifleman H.M.S.A.S. Protea 1998-08-22
Schronen, Derick John Rifleman Unknown 1983-12-31
Schultz, Bruce Edward Rifleman Unknown 1980-02-05
Schutte, Deon Lance Corporal H.Q. 1991-02-14
Schutte, Jan Jurgens Roets Trooper 1 Special Service Battalion 1978-08-23
Schutte, Pieter Marthinus Rifleman Unknown 1987-11-11
Schuurman, Jean Marc Rifleman Unknown 1987-11-01
Schwartz, Gabriel Johannes Rifleman Infantry School 1982-09-16
Scott, Douglas Gardiner Lance Corporal Unknown 1993-08-19
Smit, Martin Johannes Sapper Unknown 1981-05-06
Smit, Mathys Cornelius Rifleman Unknown 1983-12-31
Smit, Pieter Frederick Lieutenant Unknown 1980-03-25
Smit, Rudolph Jacobus Second Lieutenant Unknown 1995-06-17
Smit, Sophia Elizabeth Lance Corporal 10 Air Depot 1980-02-12
Smit, Willem Hendrik Lance Corporal Unknown 1980-08-30
Smit, Willem Jacobus Pioneer 47 Survey Squadron 1992-08-10
Smith, Abraham Jacobus Sergeant Unknown 1977-01-28
Smith, Alfred Gordon Private Unknown 1980-09-06
Steyn, Jacobus Frederick Rifleman Unknown 1977-03-13
Steyn, Josua Daniel Joubert Rifleman Unknown 1983-09-30
Van Rooyen, Lionel Rifleman Unknown 1981-07-10
Van Rooyen, Nicolaas Mostert Hofmeyer Van Der Spuy Private 31 Battalion 1978-11-24
Van Rooyen, Rudi Private OSC School 1990-12-11
Van Rooyen, Steven Second Lieutenant Dog Training Centre 1991-03-07
Van Schalkwyk, Arend Hendrik Commandant Dog Centre 1975-05-16
Van Schalkwyk, Cornelius Tobias Rifleman Equestrian Centre 1981-02-25

Source: https://rohsa.co.za/org.php?dir=desc&id=2250&pdf=1

© 2026 Roll of Honour Project — All Rights Reserved

South African Roll of Honour — Remembering those who served and fell. Lest We Forget.