Identity
Person No.
1097
Service No.
89598V
Last Name
First Name
Henry Francis
Initials
H F
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
27
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Unknown
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
UDF 24,809
Union Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Unknown
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Notes
Son of William H. and Amelia L. Barker, of Durban, Natal, South Africa; husband of Elizabeth Alice Barker, of Durban.
Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 3
2Lt Andre Opperman was killed in a SWAPO ambush on 6 September 1978 close to Chana Omalapapa at Beacon 28 on the Angolan border. Information obtained from Louis Bothma's book, Die Buffel Struikel.
I remember Oppies as I worked with him and picked up his body after he was killed on the white road. Oppies was killed on the border. I also remember Sarel Kruger and Gerhard Retief was was with us and also both dead Martin Venter
2Lt Opperman was in command of the Second Platoon, Bravo Company, 32 Battalion, who were on patrol on 12 September. They walked into a 39 strong SWAPO ambush just 200 metres from the SWA / Angola border, at Chana Omelepapa, SWAPO allowing almost half of the patrol to enter the kill zone before opening fire with both small arms and a PKM machine gun. 2Lt Opperman was killed just eight metres from the position of the latter, whilst two more of his men were wounded before SWAPO withdrew into Angola. Information extracted from "32 Battalion - The Inside Story of South Africa's Elite Fighting Unit" by Piet Nortje Peter
Dedications 5
If this is Andre Opperman, he was at my school a couple of years before me - a great guy - a leader. Missed by his two brothers, and his school. F.H.
I remember riding on a train with Andre, to a Math review session in Johannesburg. Wilks was there, and Jos, maybe Andrew. Just boys, a few short months from war. He seemed so proud, so mature. I have visited this site often and grieve the absence of any other memories for this young man. I now live in the USA, a world away, a lifetime away. I still remember Andre and look forward to seeing him in eternity. "Boys' griefs are not so grievous as our yearning, Boys have no sadness sadder than our hope." Wilfred Owen Mervin Langley
I went to school with Andre, we often used to walk home together as he stayed a block away from our place in Cathleen street. His dad was a railway police man. we used to row for Florida park high school although he was a lot better than i was an d he continued until leaving school. Andre started national service 6 months earlier than i did. He was a great bloke and we were all pretty schocked that he had died, I attended his funeral and it was a very sad day for us all. No one even thought that it could happen to us as most boys from Andre's year were all in the SANDF doing our national service. Years ago but feels like yesterday, he is often in my thoughts, must be getting old Sean
Andre was in my class around 1976/7 and while I wasnt exceptionally close to him everyone in that year were pretty much buddies, they were good times. Andre gave meaning to the phrase "Gentle Giant". He was a big guy but never used it to pick on anyone or bully. A real great person. Hearing about his death was a shock, no one at that age expects it, especially when it happens to someone like Andre, very sad......
I also went to school with Andre and was part of his team will rowing as being his cox in the 1st fours division at school. He was a good person and I never ever saw him get cross or angry. It was a shock when we heard the news of his untimely death at such an early age.