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Brauckmann , Heinrich William (H W)

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Photo of Brauckmann Photo of Brauckmann
Identity
Person No.
29579
Service No.
78266616PE
Last Name
Brauckmann 1
First Name
Heinrich William
Initials
H W
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1962 (±1 yr) 351
Age at Death
23
Death Record
Date of Death
30 August 1985 120
Cause code
MVA 2,626
Motor vehicle accident
Cause of Death
Died in motor vehicle accident 1,759
Died in Motor Vehicle Accident, at Langebaan
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
4 Reconnaissance Regiment 10
Later renamed 4 Special Forces Regiment (1995)
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,343
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
"B" Coy.
Defence Force
SADF 3,821
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,859
Locality
Free State 737
Cemetery
WESSELSBRON CEMETERY 3
Grave Reference
Grave 1021 1
Unit History
Role at time of death
Special Forces (reconnaissance)
Status
Regular Force
Each numbered Reconnaissance unit was renamed over time: "X Reconnaissance Commando" -> "X Reconnaissance Regiment" (1981) -> briefly a Parachute Battalion designation (1992/93, under "45 Parachute Brigade", a Special-Forces-only designation distinct from the real 44 Parachute Brigade) -> "X Special Forces Regiment" (1995). The parent formation itself changed name several times before 1995 (Special Forces Headquarters, then Directorate Reconnaissance(Forces)) with disputed exact dates between sources -- 1995 is the one date sources agree on. Corps classified as SAIC (South African Infantry Corps) per this site's own records; no independent source found confirms that for Special Forces units specifically -- treat as owner-asserted pending a better citation.
Notes

Son of H. F. Brauckmann, of Wesselsbron.

Research notes

26 Aug 2026: Unit was leftover "5 South African Infantry Battalion". SAWGP Regiment 4 Reconnaissance Regiment with no separate unit.
Col (rt) Graham du Toit, Last Post, 30 Aug 2026 gives Lt H.W. Brauckmann, 4 Reconnaissance Regiment, private motor vehicle accident at Langebaan, age 23 -- matches ROH record. Mike Sandham's 30 Aug 2026 email (SAWGP https://www.southafricawargraves.org/search/details.php?id=29579 notes he is 'inscribed on SADF Wall of Remembrance 1965 Air Force'. CONFLICT: a 1965 Air Force Wall panel does not obviously fit a 4 Reconnaissance Regiment Army Special Forces death -- not changed, both Regiment and the Wall panel detail are left as sourced pending further research.

Citations
Unknown
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