Identity
Person No.
30071
Old ROH no.
353
Service No.
78236700PE
Last Name
First Name
Pierre James
Initials
P J
Date of Birth
Age at Death
25
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, in Ops Modular, when his vehicle encountered a Soviet 23 mm AAA gun deployed in a ground role
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Sergeant
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Air Force
Defence Force
SADF 3,817
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
Cuito Cuanavale, Cuando Cubango province, Angola
Coordinates
Panel
On the panel
Operation Moduler
Operation
Operation
Dates
1987-08-01 to 1987-11-15
About
Operation launched to support UNITA against a major FAPLA offensive aimed at capturing UNITA's stronghold of Mavinga. Culminated in the Battle of the Lomba River (September-October 1987), where SADF mechanised and artillery forces, fighting alongside UNITA, halted and largely destroyed FAPLA's 47 Brigade attempting to cross the river — the action in which several ROH records on this site (Alves, De Klerk, Kuyler, McCallum, Mananza, Tchipango and others) were killed when their Ratel 90 was destroyed at point-blank range by a T-55 tank.
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 Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Digue
Research notes
Colyn Brookes, Mibisa: Volume One – Western Cape (Lulu, 2013, ISBN 9781447682523): Cape Town, Durbanville Cemetery, Durban, Hero's Acre 8.
Johann Digue (brother, ROH stories 8 & 11 Nov 2015): met Pierre's own commander in the field weeks later, who described the day in detail -- it was Pierre's scheduled day off but he volunteered for the operation against FAPLA's 16th Brigade, was posted at the Ratel's anti-aircraft position, and was killed by AA fire around 09h10; SADF lost 7 killed and 9 wounded that day. Follow-up email (11 Nov) confirmed the existing record's detail was correct.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
MIBISA Volume One – Western Cape
open source ↗
Cape Town, Durbanville Cemetery, Durban, Hero's Acre 8
-
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 66-76 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 10
Pierre Digue was a dear friend of mine. To my knowledge, he was based at 1 SAI Bn Tempe and attached to 61 Mech Bn Gp at the time of his death. Pierre died in action during late 1987 in Operation Modular. I wasn't there at the time, but rumour has it that he had volunteered for a task - and that he was killed when his vehicle encountered a Soviet 23 mm AAA gun deployed in a ground role. That was so typical of him. Pierre, we will always remember you.
My name is Andre and Pierre was my twin brother (non-identical). We were born in Grays hospital Pietermaritzburg, Natal the 23rd of February 1962 and lived in Natal for our first 12 years where after we moved to Bloemfontein. We both attended Jim Fouche primary school grade 6 and 7. Pierre then decided to complete his High school years at the High Technical School in Bloemfontein. He was a man‘s man. A real lion amongst the men and had many true friends. One of his favorite passions in high school was singing in the choir. Pierre was never a great sports lover or I never regarded him as wanting to get physical through sports and that is why his career in the army was such a contrast to how I experienced him in his younger years. Pierre discovered the secret of life long before most of us realise why we are here. And that is to, apart from worshipping the almighty God, to live out your dream, your passion in life. His dream and passion I believe, was to stand up and fight on behalf of many. He was not weak. He fought for the weak. He had some faults like all of us yes, but that did not deter him from fulfilling his destiny. Pierre had a good relationship with his father. There was a special bond I believe. This investment he received from his father allowed him to be the leader and role model for others, dramatically impacting the lives of many. Although our interests differed and we thought on different levels, I respect and honour God for who Pierre was. He fought a physical battle that a lot of us have to fight in the spiritual. It is not easy but I believe we are continuously called to fight the good fight on behalf of many, in the same spirit that Pierre did, to stand up and volunteer. Not waiting to be called when conditions are perfect but simply and courageously stating: ‘here I am’.
Pierre Digue was a permanent force corporal in O Company, 1SAI, Bloemfontein, when I did my basic training there in 1983. He was a tough, uncompromising, at times aggressive, non-com. After basics he was given the drivers' platoon of O Company to whip into shape. I was one of those drivers. He brooked no-nonsense, drove us ceaselessly, did not tolerate slackness and generally gave us a very tough time. Yet we grew to respect him enormously. He was enormously loyal to us and I once saw him assault an entire company who had dared to try and get to our food in the mess. In the end we would have waded through fire to follow him. In August 1983 he took us to the border to be part of Fighting Group Charlie, which participated in Ops Llama in Angola. Here we learnt a different side of him. He was a funny, caring, intelligent person, a good friend, a fine soldier. He was with us in Fighting Group Delta when we took part in Ops Askari. I last saw him at 1 SAI. He was sitting in the driver's seat of a tractor. It was weeks before my national service ended. We had a very candid conversation. I tried to convince him to leave the army, feeling that he could make a success of any career he chose. But the army was in his blood. I phoned him at his home in Bellville, if I remember correctly. It was New Year's Day, 1986. He sounded genuinely pleased to hear from me. Looking back, I can honestly say that I'd learnt more about leadership from Pierre Digue and my platoon sergeant during basics, corporal "Bere" van den Bergh. He could not stand kow-towers and was always fair. I will always remember him with great affection and enormous respect. Gustav "Prof" Venter
25 Years on..... the driver's platoon will be having a reunion in Bloemfontein 17/18 October 2009 and hope all that reads this info could possibly pass on this important information so that we can also toast to our beloved corporal. Paul Stone,(082 9310272) Clint Mann, (082-854444).Charlie Dunston and Prof Venter (0836906257).
Sgt Pierre Digue was our platoon commander and was killed in 1987. Our platoon is holding a reunion this month and we have nade a DVD containing pictures of the border as well as our time in camp. I would like to send one to Smitties relatives. Please contact me if anyone knows where I can get hold of them Paul Stone
Hein Lorenzen and I were together on JL?s. I clearly remember Sgt. PJ Digue for two reasons. The first is I do not recall him ever wearing a jersey or bush jacket even on those cold winter mornings at MLW or ?Die Brug?. Always in an immaculate short sleeve ?Browns? shirt boldly displaying the three stripes on both arms. Secondly during Platoon commanders course, special weapons training Sgt. PJ Digue singled me our as the ?Engelsman? being one of about four English JL?s, I remember him saying it in a funny yet compassionate way. I would have followed him to hell and back had he asked. Unfortunately before we could be deployed the bad news reached us. Steven Mavromatis (Engelsman) Mavro
Pierre, it is 23 years today, Rest in peace my friend you are still in my thoughts.
Sergeant Dique was killed in action on 9 November 1987 by FAPLA's 16th Brigade, a battle in which I also participated. According to stories at the time he was sitting in the tailgunner's position on a Ratel 20. A mortar shell landed on the Ratel and he was hit in the head by shrapnel that came in under his headset. Stories at the time had it that he ilved for sometime and had medical attention and a blood transfusion, but died shortly afterwards. Like I said these were battlefield rumours and stories told at the time. Lance Corporal P. F. Botha 84413681BG 4 SAI, A Company , Platoon 3 PF Botha
PIERRE AND I SERVED IN 1SAI IN BLOEM HE WAS MY CORP IN 1982 WE SERVED TOGETHER HE WAS NEVER COLD DAY OR NIGHT HOW COLD HE NEVER WORE A JACKET PIERRE BLESS YOU BROTHER WHEN I CLARED OUT HE BECAME PF AND MADE SERGANT ITS A PITTY HE PASSED ON BECAUSE PIERRE WAS A GOOD PERSON ALLTHOUGH HE GAVE ME A NICK NAME WHICH SOOTED ME WELL REST IN PEACE BROTHER THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME THE RIGHT WAY HILTON HISCOCK
I am Pierre's older brother by 13 months, Johann. I am writing this on the eve of the 28th anniversary of Pierre's death deep in the Angolan bush. Memories of Pierre came flooding, memories of a caring, strong-willed, determined, and loving person who was always ready to help others, no questions asked. I had the opportunity to join Operation Hooper in January 1988, an Operation planned to relieve Operation Modular of which Pierre formed part of as a member of 4 SAI. Our unit, on our way to Cuito Cuanavale, passed his unit in Angola where I met with Pierre's commander. Sitting under a tree in the veld he relayed the circumstances surrounding Pierre's death. According to him it was Pierre's day off but he insisted in forming part of the operation planned for the day, an operation to halt the advance of the FAPLA 16th Brigade. He was given the anti-aircraft position at the back of the Ratel to observe the battle. The SADF lost 7 killed and 9 wounded on the day, Pierre died approximately 9h10 due to AA fire. I will never forget … In loving memory, jou ouboet.
Dedications 2
Pierre was a dedicated friend and a good soldier. He was dedicated and loyal and believed in the SADF. He was a loss to all of us at 1 SAI Bn. I have missed him for the past 15 years as a friend and a coleague. Thanks for being a true friend.
Pierre Digue was my instructor during JLs in 1987 at MLW in Tempe, Bloemfontein. He was loved and respected by us JLs - a true character. Later that year we heared of his death after he was called up (volunteered?) for operational duty (Ops Modular). His death shocked our camp just before our passing-out parade, but managed to prepare us for our turn in the ops area. I miss a true leader of men. - Hein Hein Lorenzen