Identity
Person No.
29834
Old ROH no.
250
Service No.
69257459BT
Last Name
First Name
Timothy Gilmore
Initials
T G
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
23
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,779
Killed in action
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,828
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Unit History
Awards
South Africa
Pro Patria Medal warrant, Government Gazette No. 5171 (25 Jun 1976), Rule 5, as amended by GG No. 5575 (3 Jun 1977); discontinued by GG No. 25213 (25 Jul 2003, Schedule corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 Sep 2004) for service on/after 27 Apr 2003. Gazette extracts: https://rohsa.co.za/award.php?id=24
Notes
Son of Mrs. E. Conway
Research notes
4 Sep 2026: Unit leftover "Regiment Algoa Bay" (a named regiment, not a sub-unit) moved to Regiment. Corps unchanged.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Navy" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Army". Across the roll 787 records carried such a contradiction; judged against Corps and Regiment -- independent of both columns -- the evidence backed Branch 744 times and Unit2 not once. Branch is therefore kept and the contradicting word removed. Nothing is guessed: this man's branch of service is already recorded, and his sub-unit, if any, is simply not known.
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 29-32 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 3
I was Tim's platoon leader atthe time. We we in base in "no-mans-land" a few hundred metres south of the Angolan border. I recall that afternoon the mail arrived and Tim was one of the few who got a parcel from home. We had an Int Cpl visiting us and that night at about 21:00 one of our lookouts reported what appeared to be torch light beams flashing about 1 to 2 kms away. Shortly after that we heard the thump of mortars being fired and we all ran for our dugout positions. Tim went to check on the Int Cpl, being concerned that he would not know where to go. On running toward his dugout with the Int Cpl following the first mortar exploded something like +-15 meters from Tim and he went down having taken schrapnel in the chest. He was given immediate medical treatment and then CASEVAC'd and died on route.
I served with Tim in the same platoon but not in the same section. Earlier the day of 16 December 1976 we spend some time together during the day chatting about the love ones back home. Enjoying some of the eats that we received from the states. The attack happened just after stand to the evening of 16 December 1976. We heard the enemies mortar base plates and I immediately realized we are under attack. It felt like forever before the first mortar shell landed near our base. The attack lasted about 40 min but it felt like hours. Soon after the noise ended I heard someone moaning and realized one of us were hurt and soon afterward heard that it was Tim. He was taken to a tent and preparations started to have him CASAVACTED. I went to see him and his first question was ???if all his men are OK???. I assured him they were OK and that was the last time I saw him alive. They CASAVACTED him but soon afterwards we were informed he died. I was then told I must take over his section. At that stage I was a youngster of 21 sitting with a section in mourning. It was not easy but we pulled through. I just want to take the opportunity to salute my old army buddy.
Corporal Tim Conway served in Ovamboland during 1976. It was here one evening, that his unit came under sustained mortar and machine gun fire by insurgents. Corporal Conway was fatally wounded by shrapnel during the opening engagement. (see person
Dedications 2
Corporal Tim Conway was fatally wounded by shrapnel during the opening engagement. With total disregard for his personal safety, "Tiffy" returned fire from an exposed postion and simultaneously directed return mortar fire. For this, "Tiffy" was awarded the Honoris Crux. He was sadly killed in action the following year. I shall always remember him for his delightful personality, dedication and courage.
Timothy was my brother, the most best brother you could have had. Date of death 16/12/1976 at the age of 23. He will live in my heart forever. joy (conway)singkey