 CEMETERY_de lange_ge.jpg)
Identity
Person No.
29998
Old ROH no.
315
Service No.
79331542BG
Last Name
First Name
Gerhard Ernst
Initials
G E
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,781
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, in a contact with the enemy. While on patrol out of Ongangwa, they set up a Temp Base but during the night, a group of the enemy approached and a fire fight ensued. He was killed by a hand grenade explosion during the contact
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Unit
Secondary Unit
123 Harbor Protection Unit
Defence Force
SADF 3,815
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Unit History
Role at time of death
Airborne light infantry (paratroops)
Status
Regular Force
Part of
Raised 1 April 1961 at Tempe. First battalion of 44 Parachute Brigade from 1978.
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 Mr. and Mrs. L. C. de Lange, of Johannesburg
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), pages 57-65 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 3
Gerhard de Lange and I matriculated at the same school in 1982. In 1984 we were both deployed in Namibia/Angola as part of A-Coy, 1 Para. We were sweeping an area between Ondangwa and Oshikango-my platoon to the east and Gerhard's platoon to the west of the road. A Swapo contingent walked into their TB just after sunset, during stand down, and Gerhard was killed in the contact. I cannot recall the date but it must have been around June 1984 and not January as stated. I was a platoon commander then and Gerhard's platoon commander was 2nd Lt D Benade.
I saw his story on a program called grensoorlog on Kyk-net. What a waste of a young life, his mom looked so strong but you could still see the pain of a parent loosing a child although it was a long time ago.
Ek was daar die aand, sal Delange nooit vergeet.
Dedications 1
Paratrooper?s Prayer Heavenly Father, King of the world I know that all things are in your hands, whatever happens to me. As a paratrooper I am prepared to suffer hardship. I am ready to endure danger and unrest, pain and hurt. I am willing to be hungry end thirsty. I am prepared to face the enemy fearlessly. Lord I am weak. I cannot depend on my own strength. I do not want to trust in my own abilities. Lord my God; Let me trust in you alone. Give me courage and strength, and, above all, faith to do my work fearlessly ?