Identity
Person No.
1845
Service No.
Unknown
Last Name
First Name
Ian McGowan
Initials
I M
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
SUIC 384
Suicide
Cause of Death
Died of self inflicted gun shot wound to head, while temporarily insane induced by acute malaria
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
UDF 24,809
Union Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Unknown
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Notes
Son of James Jarvis Bisset, and Beatrice Bisset, of 85, Burg St., Cape Town, South Africa.
Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 4
swa spes. plt 17. killed in ambush near itali
Terence Rodney Le Roux (Terry). 5 SAI. Killed in an ambush NNE of Etale 1981.Walked into an L ambush after following 7 spoor for +/- 5km. Swaps must have regrouped and were 60+ at time of ambush.Terry was part of a tracking team of 7.Amazing fire power. We were lucky to walk away from this one. Terry, you are often in my thoughts, 25 years later!
Koos was killed in a contact near Etale on the 19th of June,1980.He was in SwaSpes,berede,plt 17. jc vd westhuizen
I was also in Berede Platoon 17, and with Koos on patrol during Operation Smokeshell, on that day in June 1980. We had been chasing the spoor for more the 2 days when we were ambushed by SWAPO insurgents. I would just like to let you all know that Koos was killed instantly during the first seconds of the firefight, and he died a very brave young man, proudly serving his country. It was 34 years ago, but I still remember it as if it was yesterday...................RIP.
Dedications 3
Koos. Ek onthou toe ons gesels het net voordat jy op was vir jou eerste trip grens toe. Jy het nog gese dat berede veiliger is as om in 32Bn te wees. (waar ek was). Phil Steward ('n korporaal saam met jou by swaspes) het my vertel dat jy tydens jou eerste bostrip doodgeskiet is. Ons was besig met ops Loodvoet. ons het dit op die radio gehoor. Dit was vir my 'n groot skok. Jana het baie lan gevat om oor jou te kom. Jy was 'n goeie pel. Ek mis jou baie.
I had the privilege to be the chef briefly at Oshivelo when it was still a SWASPES camp my name is Peter Welgemoed and was a Corp at the time the year was 1981-1982 I was known as Cheffie and SWASPES presented me with the spoorsnyer flash for looking out for them and I became an honoury SWASPES member this goes out for all those who fell in the conflict P.Welgemoed
Ek was in Swaspes 1978 tot 1979. Eers Bike squad en toe 'n drywer. Baie met Berede gewerk. Mangeti plase, Italie, Umbalantu, Enana... Groete.