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Bezuidenhout , Christo Francois (C F)

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Photo of Bezuidenhout
Identity
Person No.
29429
Old ROH no.
86
Service No.
79576542BG
Last Name
Bezuidenhout 71
First Name
Christo Francois
Initials
C F
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1963 (±1 yr) 330
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
06 March 1983 114
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,654
Killed in action, on guard duty with Gnr. J. Bosse on a farm near Tsumeb, well below the danger line. A small band of terrorists sneaked up on the two and shot them at point blank range
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
61 Mechanised Battalion Group 23
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,342
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,817
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,850
Locality
North West 534
Cemetery
POTCHEFSTROOM CEMETERY 89
Grave Reference
HA12 1
Coordinates
-26.71486, 27.075 OSM
Unit History
Role at time of death
Mechanised Infantry (combined-arms battalion group)
Status
Regular Force
Part of
South African Defence Force (1957–1994) — I South African Corps (1 SA Corps) — Battlegroups
Formed 1978 as Battle Group Juliet (SWAPO counter-insurgency, Ovamboland); formally named 61 Mechanised Battalion (Group) January 1979; disbanded 2005 at Lohatla. "Battalion Group" reflects its integral combined-arms structure: two Ratel-20-mounted infantry companies, an armoured car/tank squadron (Eland/Ratel-90, later Olifant), an integral G5 howitzer artillery battery, an 81mm mortar platoon, an anti-tank platoon, and an anti-aircraft troop -- not merely units attached for one operation. Fought at the Battle of the Lomba River, 1987. No evidence found that it was ever subordinated to or redesignated as a "61 Mechanised Brigade" -- see the note on that separate OrgEntity record.
Awards
Pro Patria Medal
Pro Patria Medal
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

Western Transvaal colours in Cricket and Rugby. Grew up with Gnr. J. Boose as best friends, and had no family (having been brought up together in a childcare facility). N-O-K given as Mrs. M. L. Schultz

Research notes

Gunners Association RoH lists them (South African Border War 1983 Gunner C.F. Bezuidenhout) - https://www.gunners.org.za/home-2/roll-of-honour/

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 3
on 30 May 2001 · via source
Gnr Bezuidenhout on a farm near Tsumeb, well below the danger line. A small band of terrorists sneaked up on the two and shot them at point blank range. They were both members of 1 Medium Battery, 4th Field Artillery Regiment. Both had Western Transvaal colours in Cricket and Rugby. They grew up together as best friends, and had no family (having been brought up together in a childcare facility) Unknown Unknown
on 06 March 2009 · via source
Remember him from school, tough as nails think played scrumhalf. Our dads also played cricket for same team. Respect to you comrade. Let us never forget our sacrifices we made for South Africa. Wayne 7SAI 1984-1986 Wayne
on 17 August 2026 · via source
Bezuidenhout lost his life while on guard duty with
Dedications 6
by Lt Johan Schoeman on 30 May 2001 · via source
Always remembered, Boesman!
on 20 March 2012 · via source
Boesman my ou maat jy sou vandag jy 50ste verjaarsdag gevier het, mis jou buddy Jannas Swanepoel
by Dawid Pieters (via Johan Schoeman, War in Angola) on 10 March 2019 · via War in Angola
From Dawid Pieters:
Hoofseun en onder hoofseun saam my in kinderhuis op Potchefstroom...TRAGIES...RIP soldiers
by Pieter Brits (via Johan Schoeman, War in Angola) on 10 March 2019 · via War in Angola
From Pieter Brits:
by Andrep on 24 August 2019 · via War in Angola
I remember the day clearly . I will not forget you
rest in peace
by Johan Schoeman on 06 March 2023 · via War in Angola
Van Anton van Rooyen:
Vandag 40 jaar terug sterf twee van my groot skoolvriende en wat ook saam my in die kinderhuis was op n boer se plaas buite Tsumeb. 6 Maart 1983 sal ons nie vergeet nie. RIV Brothers Jameson Bosse en Boesman Bezuidenhout. Ek was reeds 10 maande in 1 Mil toe ek die nuus kry