Identity
Person No.
29296
Old ROH no.
33
Service No.
71384234BT
Last Name
First Name
Edward James
Initials
E J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
22
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in Action, Ops Reindeer, raid on Cassinga, the greatest airborne raid on the continent of Africa in history. Shot in chest during initial assault or shortly after landing
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,817
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Coordinates
Panel
On the panel
1978 Army. Left column. 4th name from the top (Backhouse E.J.)
Operation
Operation
Dates
1978-05-04 to 1978-05-06
About
Major combined airborne/mechanised cross-border operation against SWAPO/PLAN bases in southern Angola, its central action the Battle of Cassinga (4 May 1978) — a parachute assault on the SWAPO camp at Cassinga (Chetequera was the simultaneous ground target) that killed several hundred, disputed to this day between "military base" (SADF) and "refugee camp" (SWAPO/Namibian government) characterisations.
Unit History
Part of
Awards
South Africa
Pro Patria Medal warrant, Government Gazette No. 5171 (25 Jun 1976), Rule 5, as amended by GG No. 5575 (3 Jun 1977); discontinued by GG No. 25213 (25 Jul 2003, Schedule corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 Sep 2004) for service on/after 27 Apr 2003. Gazette extracts: https://rohsa.co.za/award.php?id=24
Notes
Son of Mr. L. H. Backhouse.
Research notes
SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1977 SAA (Kruger–Maquinda, Walker–Wilters) to 1978 SAA (Amorim–Cassamano, Hunter–Mandunga)". 1978 Army. Left column. 4th name from the top (Backhouse E.J.). | Willem Steenkamp, Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola 1975–1980, 3rd ed. (Just Done Productions, 2006, ISBN 978-1-920169-00-8): named among the five SADF killed at Cassinga on 4 May 1978 during Operation Reindeer (Rifleman Eddie Backhouse, 3 Parachute Battalion), plus ~30 wounded.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
Borderstrike! (Willem Steenkamp)
open source ↗
Willem Steenkamp, Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola 1975–1980, 3rd ed. (Just Done Productions, 2006, ISBN 978-1-920169-00-8)
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
open source ↗
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), pages 33-35 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories
No stories have been added yet.
Dedications 3
Hey Ed, I Miss you a stack , wish you were still with us. Pray that I will see you again. Len (Brother)
Its 24 years to the day when the SADF launched the raid on Cassinga, the greatest airborne raid on the continent of Africa in history. Swapo suffered an humiliating defeat losing more than a 1000 KIA, the Cubans losing more than 30 when they blundered into an ambush of the 'Bat Anti-tank element We lost 3 men KIA and 1 MIA. Let us drink a toast to the 'Bats today, and join those who will be remembering RFN E J Backhouse 3 Parachute Battalion RFN M Kaplan 2 Parachute Batallion RFN J C De Waal 2 Parachute Battalion RFN A P Human 3 Parachute Battalion Mooi loop, Cobus Cobus Venter
Paratrooper's Prayer Heavenly Father, King of the world I know that all things are in your hands, whatever happens to me. As a paratrooper I am prepared to suffer hardship. I am ready to endure danger and unrest, pain and hurt. I am willing to be hungry end thirsty. I am prepared to face the enemy fearlessly. Lord I am weak. I cannot depend on my own strength. I do not want to trust in my own abilities. Lord my God; Let me trust in you alone. Give me courage and strength, and, above all, faith to do my work fearlessly always.