Beukes , Corrie L (C L)

Chris Catto was a lance corporal, Plt 4 Alpha Co, 5 SAI. This occurred in 53 Battalion area. I was in Plt 2, but the P4 guys told us the story. Pl 4 had divided into two sticks. Chris' stick was lying at night in a TB in curve, with the Bren group opposite. Chris and Ian Whitehead were the LMG section. While they were on guard, they heard sounds (which turned out to be donkeys). Whitehead, on the Bren, opened up. For some reason the rest of the stick weren't woken, and returned fire at what they thought was an attack. Cpl Catto was shot through the head, dying instantly. Ian Whitehead was shot through the left hand (on the Bren butt) and had to have his ring finger amputated later. I met him again once in '82 or '83, when he was working at Barclays Bank in Rosebank Jhb.

Sorry, the story I just added should have been for 1721 Chris Catto Nick Collins

I was at Concor Dam (Google maps -17.430943, 14.636801 Address: <img style="display: none;" class="dir-wheelchair-icon" title="Station is accessible" alt="Station is accessible" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150312095936im_/http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/transparent.png" jstcache="35" jsdisplay="i.transitSchedules&&i.transitSchedules.stationSchedules&&i