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Boucher , William Hendrik (W H)

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Photo of Boucher
Identity
Person No.
29559
Old ROH no.
141
Service No.
70459615BT
Last Name
Boucher 7
First Name
William Hendrik
Initials
W H
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1954 (±1 yr) 318
Age at Death
22
Death Record
Date of Death
13 December 1976 132
Cause code
ACC 1,585
Accident
Cause of Death
Died in Freak Accident 255
Died in Freak Accident, his unit was guarding the Ondangwa Base in Namibia. The tent of the Security Officer caught alight from an electrical short circuit. The tent next to it was beginning to smoulder and Boucher grabbed and activated a CO2 fire extinguisher to cool the tent. The extinguisher exploded as an incorrect cartridge had been fitted when it was serviced and he was killed
Military Service
Branch
Air Force
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Unknown
Corps
South African Air Force 3,524
Unit
95 Tactical Air Unit 2
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SADF 3,821
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,859
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
SADF WALL OF REMEMBRANCE, VOORTREKKER MONUMENT, PRETORIA 1,926
Grave Reference
Panel 04 6
Memorial
Memorial
SADF Wall of Remembrance
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa
Coordinates
-25.77639, 28.17583 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
Panel 4
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Notes

Son of Mr. W. H. Boucher

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 1
on 27 January 2002 · via source
I was serving with the parachute regiment in Ondangwa during 1976. Corporal Boucher was with 95 Tactical Air Unit - SAAF. His unit was guarding the Ondangwa Base. I believe there was a fire in one of the tents at the Air Force camp area. Willy (I think that was his name) rushed to assist. He was killed by an exploding fire extinguisher...I was told. It was sudden..it was brief. All I know is, that Corporal Boucher was a brave man..a very brave man indeed!
Dedications

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