Identity
Person No.
29595
Old ROH no.
2035
Service No.
78559622BG
Last Name
First Name
Robert Owen
Initials
R O
Date of Birth
Age at Death
18
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
SHOT 545
Shot
Cause of Death
Died in Shooting Incident, at Etale Base. Accidentally shot by a buddy who was clearing his rifle after returning from patrol
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SADF 3,815
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Unit History
Notes
Son of Capt. and Mrs. R. W. Brindle
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
open source ↗
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), pages 125-128 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War in Angola Member Dedications forum (www.warinangola.com), Excel export supplied by Johan Schoeman, 1 Sep 2026. Forum post(s): 19081, 19090, 19091.
Stories 1
Robert Owen Brindle was born in Plymouth, UK on 12 October 1962 & his family relocated to South Africa in December 1967. He attended Kings School, Nottingham Road followed by Kearsney College, Botha's Hill. He started his National Service 6 months after matriculating & was in the Equestrian unit of SWASPES (South West African Special Unit). He died of a gunshot wound to the head on 6 June 1981 at the age of 18. He is buried in Stellawood Cemetery in Durban & has the Equestrian emblem on his headstone. Robert did not have to do National Service, as he was a British citizen, but felt that he could not sit at home while his friends did their duty. He was accidently shot in the back of the head during rifle inspection...this was before they started firing off into sand.
Dedications 3
I was looking at Rob when the shot went off killing him instantly. I helped get him to the sick bay. As I was with 5SAI, I did not even know his name and that bugged me for decades until I managed to track him down through pages like this one. I have contacted his mom and sister who are in the UK He was not required to serve, but volunteered anyway. Today my lads and I were in KZN and managed to visit him. RIP Rob.
The grave of Robert Owen Brindle
Last photo before he died (From sister and mom with permission)