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De Wilzem , Christiaan Louis (C L)

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Photo of De Wilzem
Identity
Person No.
30035
Old ROH no.
336
Service No.
73508434PR
Last Name
De Wilzem 1
First Name
Christiaan Louis
Initials
C L
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1958 (±1 yr) 437
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
04 January 1978 121
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,654
Killed in action, during counter-insurgency operations in Mocambique as part of Operation Melon (SADF Name (Operation Acrobat). They were attached to "D" Squadron Rhodesian Special Air Service when their patrol walked into 30-man strong Frelimo ambush in the Gaza Province of Mozambique
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
5 Reconnaissance Regiment 72
Later renamed 5 Special Forces Regiment (1995)
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,346
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,825
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,866
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
KEMPTON PARK (ZUURFONTEIN) CEMETERY 8
Grave Reference
2535 1
Coordinates
-26.06537, 28.12725 OSM
Memorial
1978 SAA (Castle–Havenga, Mennigke–Wolfgang)
Names on 1978 SAA Castle-Wolfgang
Memorial
SADF Wall of Remembrance
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa
Coordinates
-25.77639, 28.17583 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
1978 SAA Castle-Wolfgang
On the panel
1978 Army. Left column. 15th name from the top (De Wilzem C.L.)
Unit History
Home Unit
5 Reconnaissance Regiment
Attached To
"D" Squadron Rhodesian SAS
Role at time of death
Special Forces (Reconnaissance)
Status
Permanent Force (Regular)
5 Special Forces Regiment operates as one of the standing/permanent operational regiments of South African Special Forces, established from the same 1972 lineage as 1 Reconnaissance Commando. Special Forces are their own branch within the SANDF, not part of the Army.
Awards
Pro Patria Medal
Pro Patria Medal
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. C. J. De Wilzem. ref. "Rhodesian Roll of Honour" by P. Geldenhuys (Roll compiled by Dr. J. R. T. Wood)

Research notes

Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2024: 73508434PR Lance Corporal Christiaan Louis De Wilzem, 5 Reconnaissance Regiment, KIA during counter-insurgency operations in Mozambique while attached to D Squadron Rhodesian SAS, age 20. ROH unit was 1 Squadron (regiment already 5 Recce).
SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1978 SAA (Castle–Havenga, Mennigke–Wolfgang)". 1978 Army. Left column. 15th name from the top (De Wilzem C.L.).
SASFA In Memoriam (operators): confirmed Special Forces operator. SASFA: De Wilzem Chris KIA 1978. https://www.recce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/4.1.-Memoriam.pdf 26 Aug 2026: . SAWGP Regiment 5 Reconnaissance Regiment with no separate unit; Unit 2 attd. "D" Squadron Rhodesian Special Air Service recorded as attachment.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Army" was CLEARED as a duplicate. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word repeating what the Branch column already says. Secondary Unit is for sub-units -- a company, a squadron, a commando -- and this record's branch of service is unchanged at "Army".

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 1
by Chris Bester on 28 November 2010 · via source
Lance Corporal C L "Chris" De Wilzem (Mil no : 73508434) were killed in action in the Gaza Province, Mozambique, during Operation Melon. Chris were part of D Squadron, Rhodesian Special Air Service. Information: Rhodesian SAS ROH.
Dedications

No dedications have been added yet.