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1 Parachute Battalion

Battalion
South African Army Formed: 1961-04-01 92 records in this database

1 Parachute Battalion (motto Ex alto vincimus — “We conquer from above”) is the only full-time paratroop unit of the South African Army, nicknamed the Parabats. It was raised at Tempe, Bloemfontein on 1 April 1961. In 1960 fifteen SADF volunteers were sent to England, to RAF Abingdon — a Royal Air Force station in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, not a South African Air Force base — mostly to train as parachute instructors and packers; one SAAF pilot trained there in dropping paratroopers. Together with 2 Mobile Watch they formed the nucleus of the battalion. Members were the first South African Army soldiers in action after the Second World War, with the South African Police against insurgents in South West Africa in 1966, and the battalion served throughout the Border War (1966–1989); its best-known action is the Battle of Cassinga in 1978. It was the first battalion of 44 Parachute Brigade from 1978 until the brigade was downsized to 44 Parachute Regiment in 1999. Garrison remains Tempe. Still active under the SANDF.

Wikipedia

Part of

Formation Type Relationship Dates
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — 44 Parachute Regiment — Regular Category organic
army-oob:infantry
44 Parachute Brigade Brigade organic 1978-01-01 – 1999-12-31
1/2/3/4 Parachute Battalion sat under 44 Parachute Brigade (formed 1978) until the brigade was redesignated 44 Parachute Regiment.
44 Parachute Regiment Regiment organic 2000-01-01
44 Parachute Brigade redesignated 44 Parachute Regiment; the numbered parachute battalions remained its battalions.

Eras

Dates Force Role Status
1961-04-01 – 1994-04-26 SADF Airborne light infantry (paratroops) Regular Force
Raised 1 April 1961 at Tempe. First battalion of 44 Parachute Brigade from 1978. Source
1994-04-27 SANDF Airborne light infantry (paratroops) Regular Force
Still the SANDF’s only full-time parachute battalion. 44 Parachute Brigade was downsized to 44 Parachute Regiment in 1999. Source

Personnel

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

All (92) South African Defence Force (47) South African National Defence Force (36) South African Police (6) Blank Force (2) Union Defence Force (1)
# Last Name First Name Initials Rank Force Regiment Corps Date of Death
29176 Aaron Tekoetsile George T G Gunner SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1997-11-06
29309 Badenhorst Stephanus S Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1984-08-08
29359 Barrett Russell Hilton R H Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1982-08-09
29392 Bell Etienne Louis E L Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1979-07-06
29399 Benecke Melvin Ashley M A Lance Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1987-09-06
29422 Beukes Elias Jacobus Nicolaas E J N Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-03-28
29482 Bojane Motsamai William M W Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
29614 Broodryk Anton Leon A L Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1976-04-13
37067 Buys Frans Barend F B Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1978-11-08
29981 De Klerk Alan A Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1982-08-09
29993 De Kock Servaas S Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1982-10-15
29998 De Lange Gerhard Ernst G E Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1984-07-22
30006 De Rose Hughes Norbert H N Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1987-10-31
30091 Dlamini Xolani (chucky) X Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
30093 Dobson Stanley Wilfred Oswald R S W O R Battery Quartermaster Sergeant UDF Royal Artillery 1948-11-05
30120 Du Bois Pierre Johannes P J Lance Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1978-08-12
30135 Du Plessis Jacobus Willem J W Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1980-06-12
48784 Du Toit A Rifleman SADF 44 Parachute Regiment 1989-10-27
30281 Ewels Wayne Vallentine W V Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1987-10-31
30482 Golden Dennis Colin D C Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1979-03-28
30531 Greyling Johannes Barend J B Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1978-08-12
30640 Harvey Gavin John G J Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-06-02
30704 Hertzog Lesego Maxwell L M Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
48591 Hurter Johann Jacobus J J Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1984-06-16
31101 Kleu Pieter Johannes P J Lance Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1989-10-20
31159 Krogh Paul Jacobus P J Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1964-05-13
31189 Krull Grant William G W Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1982-08-09
31337 Light Raymond Mark R M Lance Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1987-10-31
48596 Lubbe Michael Bruce M B Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1982-03-22
31481 Mafuta Sikhum(buzo) Zett S Z Lance Corporal SANDF 44 Parachute Brigade 1998-09-22
31482 Magabuka B Rifleman SANDF 1998-04-03
31563 Mangoagape Albert Twale A T Rifleman SANDF 44 Parachute Brigade 1998-09-22
31578 Mapeyi Vumile Robert V R Lance Corporal SANDF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1996-06-01
31586 Maqina Goodman Mthunzi S S Corporal SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1997-01-01
31667 Mason Mark M Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1982-02-18
31706 Matrose Lucas Sonwabo L S Lance Corporal SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1997-11-06
31709 Matsheka Karabo Edwin K E Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
31710 Matsosa T D Rifleman SANDF 1998-08-23
31778 Mogorosi Andrew Ntebaleng A N Corporal SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
31492 Mogwazana Lucas Mnikeni L M Lance Corporal SANDF 44 Parachute Brigade 1998-09-22
31779 Mohadi I L Corporal SANDF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1998-06-17
31783 Mohui Moses Pule R J Rifleman SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1997-01-01
31808 Molara Daniel Sello D S Lance Corporal SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
31810 Molebatsi R L Rifleman SANDF 1998-09-22
31811 Molefe Child Of C O Civilian — Civilian 1999-10-23
31812 Molefe Child Of C O Civilian — Civilian 1999-10-23
32034 Mothupi Owageng Abelt O A Lance Corporal SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1998-09-22
32035 Motlhaku M S Signaler SANDF 1998-04-07
32037 Motlokoa T J Rifleman SANDF 1998-05-11
32038 Motseo M J Rifleman SADF 1992-01-01