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Bigalke , Heinrich Rudolph (H R)

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Photo of Bigalke Photo of Bigalke
Identity
Person No.
29443
Old ROH no.
92
Service No.
73493439BC
Last Name
Bigalke 1
First Name
Heinrich Rudolph
Initials
H R
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1958 (±1 yr) 437
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
21 April 1977 120
Cause code
MVA 2,625
Motor vehicle accident
Cause of Death
Died in motor vehicle accident 1,758
Died in Military Vehicle Accident, 20 kms from Rundu, when his vehicle rolled
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
3 South African Infantry Battalion 70
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,342
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SADF 3,817
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,851
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
PRETORIA (REBECCA STREET) CREMATORIUM 5
Grave Reference
Ashes at Rebecca St Crematorium Wall. 1
Unit History
Part of
Training Formation
Notes

Son of Dr. R. D. Bigalke, of Pretoria.

Research notes


14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added -- database-wide sweep for SADF Border War operational-area deaths within the medal's gazetted window (25 Jun 1976 - 27 Apr 2003), per the warrant's died-before-qualifying-period provision. See PersonAward.Citation for the gazette references.
14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added earlier today REVERTED -- John obtained the actual Government Gazette (GG 5171/5575); the "died before completing the qualifying period" provision relied on does not exist in the primary text (it was a secondary-source claim). Actual Rule 5 requires (a) combat/enemy-caused incident, (b) a Ministerially-acknowledged operation (clasp), or (c) 55+ continuous/90+ non-continuous days in an operational area -- none of which this record's cause of death clearly demonstrates.

Citations

Unknown

External References
Stories

No stories have been added yet.

Dedications 1
on 10 July 2013 · via source
This "person" was my brother. He died at age 19, denying him the chance to experience adult life and leaving behind a shattered family. I was 17 at the time and his death influenced my views on life and SA politics to a large extent. He was kind and gentle, liked philosophising and was no soldier. He taught kids in Rundu. ilse bigalke