Identity
Person No.
29423
Old ROH no.
84
Service No.
75362434BC
Last Name
First Name
Michael Nicolaas
Initials
M N
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
18
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, night camp ambushed between Beacon 9 & 10. A 12-man patrol had set an ambush; at 01h10 on Christmas morning, in rain and poor visibility, SWAPO/PLAN insurgents attacked from close range with assault rifles, machine guns and RPG anti-tank rockets. Critically wounded with multiple bullet wounds to the lower body (four others wounded in the legs and feet). Evacuated to the Trauma Surgical Unit at Grootfontein and succumbed on the operating table
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SADF 3,823
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Unit History
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 Dr. M. N. and Mev. E. Beukes, of Kathu.
Research notes
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 25 Dec 2017: 75362434BC Rifleman Michiel Nicolaas Beukes, 4 SAI, Died of Wounds from a SWAPO/PLAN attack on a 12-man patrol between Beacon 9 & 10 at 01h10 Christmas morning (rain, poor visibility; assault rifles, machine guns, RPG); multiple bullet wounds to the lower body; four others wounded in the legs and feet; Platoon Sergeant fired a Claymore; evacuated to Grootfontein Trauma Surgical Unit and succumbed on the operating table, age 18. ROH first name is Michael (SAWGP Michael Nicolaas); Graham Michiel not overwritten. ROH was KIA at Grootfontein, night camp ambushed — filled Beacon 9 & 10 / SWAPO/PLAN / hospital death; KIA vs Graham DOW not overwritten (CauseCode left KIA).
Citations
Unknown
External References
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Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 25 Dec 2017: 75362434BC Rifleman Michiel Nicolaas Beukes from 4 SAI Died of Wounds received during a fierce contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents between Beacon 9 & 10. The 12-man patrol had set up an ambush; at 01h10 on Christmas morning, in rain and poor visibility, the insurgents attacked from close range with assault rifles, machine guns and RPG anti-tank rockets. Beukes was critically wounded with multiple bullet wounds to the lower body; four others suffered bullet wounds to the legs and feet. The Platoon Sergeant set off a Claymore; the insurgents broke contact and withdrew. Evacuated to the Trauma Surgical Unit at Grootfontein; he succumbed on the operating table. He was 18. ROH first name is Michael; age 18 matches. ROH classified KIA at Grootfontein — not overwritten to DOW.
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SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
open source ↗
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
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The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), pages 29-32 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 2
Was shot during a rare night attack by SWAPO near Ombalantu (Owamboland). Assigned to do the regular 8 day "Yeti" patrol duty, his platoon's overnight patrol camp was ambushed and the SADF suffered 5 casualties that night, Beukes was the only fatality. Although seriously wounded, Beukes might have survived if casevac had been carried-out earlier. A call for helicopter evacution from Oshakati was turned down due to obvious risk-factor (night flight etc.). However soldiers "refreshing" at "A" Company HQ (Ombalantu) at the time, immediately volunteered to attempt to evacuate casualties via "unimog", but the order to allow this was substantialy delayed due to incompetence of dithering senior rank. On the contrary investigative evidence strongly indicated that SWAPO had taken their wounded and probably dead comrades (if any) with them. Quite demoralising actions at the time, after all what was it all about and what was the final achievement?
That day we set out on patrol 24.12.77 was just a normal days work for us. We set up a position hoping to ambush, but it ended up us been ambushed. I was laying next to beakers. I think he was carrying the Bren gun. Well the sky lit up and that was it. We had to wait a long time to be rescued,that I can remember. They got us to Ombulantu then helicopter picked us up and took us to hospital. He was a gentle but strong guy. Rest in peace my mate I will never forget.
Dedications 2
Beukes was a gentle God fearing teenager and died fighting for what he was led to believe in. Rest in peace "Ou maat" LJ
My name is Robert Antoine .i was one of the injured shot that day ,Christmas Eve.i new this man well as we camped together in the bush .we will not forget and I always think of his family and wonder if they want to know anything about that knight.i spent a long time in 1mil hospital as I was shot through the knee.all the best.Robert.