Identity
Person No.
29617
Old ROH no.
2097
Service No.
77339554BG
Last Name
First Name
Donald
Initials
D
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
Unknown
Cause of Death
On 4th December 1980 his company was based at Ondongwa. With only a few days left to serve, two sections of Donald's platoon were ordered to escort one or two buses filled with PF`s and Contractor's kids on school holiday from the states. They picked the buses up from the airbase at Ondag`s escorting them to Oshikati. On the return trip the 2 Buffels were ambushed by a large group of terrorists. A RPG hit the roll bar above Donald's head, fatally wounding him. The 2nd buffel took a RPG through the side killing two other soldiers. Everybody on Donald's buffel was wounded. The drivers (who were never decorated for their bravery) got both of those buffels out the kill zone with tyres blown out and wounded. Donald's buffel was driven to the airbase and the 2nd buffel to the base in the town. He was from Johannesburg area and believed to be an only child
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Corporal
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
452 Parachute Battalion
Defence Force
SADF 3,817
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Coordinates
Panel
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Unit History
Part of
Notes
Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. W. Brooks, of Benoni.
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 42-45 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 1
Donald Brooks served in the same company as me, a different platoon, 3SAI NS intake 1979/80. He was a section leader. In December 1980 our company was based at Ondongwa (base in the town). We had min days left. Two sections of Donald's platoon were ordered to escort one or two buses filled with PF`s and Contractor`s kids on school holiday from the states. They picked the buses up from the airbase at Ondangs escorting them to Oshikati. On the return trip the 2 Buffel`s were ambushed by a large group of gooks, who let them have it. A RPG hit the roll bar above Donalds head, fatally wounding him. The 2nd buffel took a RPG through the side killing two guys whose names I cannot remember. Everybody on Donalds buffel was wounded. The drivers (should have got medals) got both of those buffels out of the kill zone with tyres blown out and wounded. Donalds buffel was driven to to the airbase and the 2nd buffel to the base in the town. Donald died sometime in January 1981 from his wounds. He was from Johannesburg area and I hear a only child. Donald gave his life for his country. It pisses me off that SADF could not tell you how he died or what unit he was in. It shows you how much Magnus, PIK & PW cared. You know they made out like bandits. Donald you will never be forgotten. may you RIP. Martin Koning 3SAI 1979/80 keypads27@yahoo.com Martin Koning
Dedications
No dedications have been added yet.