Identity
Person No.
29989
Old ROH no.
2081
Service No.
71310536PE
Last Name
First Name
Abraham Jacobus Petrus
Initials
A J P
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
26
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in Action, in Operation Candle Light, in contact with the enemy. Died in an accidental explosion while laying demolition charges in Luanda
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SADF 3,817
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
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.
Awards
South Africa
Listed with this post-nominal on the SASFA In Memoriam PDF. https://www.recce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/4.1.-Memoriam.pdf SASFA lists SM(d).
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 Mr. T. S. de Kock. His brother also died in service. ref. "The Silent War" by Peter Stiff. Border War DVD has more about that "Operation Candlelight" in it. The implication in there was that there was not much of a body to recover after the explosion, and the recces withdrew in a hurry. He was also known as "Kokkie"
Research notes
SASFA In Memoriam (operators): confirmed Special Forces operator. SASFA: De Kock Kokkie SM(d) KIA 1981. https://www.recce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/4.1.-Memoriam.pdf 26 Aug 2026: Unit was leftover "South African Marines". SAWGP Regiment 1 Reconnaissance Regiment with no separate unit. 26 Aug 2026: Unit2 leftover formed-unit text cleared (not an arm-of-service or company/squadron qualifier).
Citations
Unknown
External References
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), page 77 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
-
Unit veterans association
open source ↗
SASFA In Memoriam: De Kock Kokkie SM(d) KIA 1981 — confirmed Special Forces operator
Stories 1
Kokkie, dink nog baie aan jou. Jy het as soldaat en vriend diep spore getrap.
Dedications 2
To my old friend,& company commander "Kokkie" from Cpl "Rubberswitch" from 2SAI BN 1977. Thought of you through the years. Your training stood me in good stead over the years.
Kokkie, Braahm - jy is ons hero! Ons mis jou, en wens dat ons 'n langer tydjie gegun kon word om jou te kon ken! Ons almal mis jou vreeslik, veral ouma en pa. Alle liefde: Cezanne en Celest? xXx Cezanne & Celest?