Identity
Person No.
30281
Old ROH no.
444
Service No.
82437369BG
Last Name
First Name
Wayne Vallentine
Initials
W V
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
21
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,781
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, at Nindango Angola, in Operation Firewood against Swapo
Military Service
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Coordinates
Panel
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Operation
Unit History
Home Unit
Attached To
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. G. R. Ewels, of East London.
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 66-76 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 7
Towards the end of 1987 two platoons of D Company (Jan 1986 ? Dec 1987), 1 Parachute Battalion were seconded to 5 Reconnaissance Regiment. The platoons were under command of Capt PA Pienaar (Pine), 2IC of D Coy and the platoon commanders were Lt J de V Kruys and 2Lt F J Wiese. Together with members of 5 and 2 Reconnaissance Regiments, the members of D Coy took part in an attack on a Swapo base in central Angola. The operation was named Ops Firewood. The attack commenced at dawn on 31 October 1987 and the SA forces only withdrew after dark on the same day. It was estimated that more than 300 Swapo fighters were killed during the battle. At the end of the day Cpl N S Olivier, L/Cpl R M Light, Rfn H N de Rose, Rfn D W van Rooyen and Rfn W F Ewels were dead, killed in action. Several other members of D Coy was also wounded during the battle and Rfn J m Schuurman died on 1 November 1987 of his wounds. Capt P A Pienaar the 2IC of D Coy who was in charge of the two platoons was killed in West Africa almost 10 years later, on 29 October 1997. The names of these members of D Coy appear on the Wall of Remembrance at 1 Parachute Battalion in Bloemfontein. We remember our comrades who paid the highest price on that day in 1987. They were all heroes and proud paratroopers. Ex Alto Vincimus -
I Bazil Johnson(2Lt) 2 SAI infantry Battallion. Wayne Ewels my bud, we spent our primary school years together at the same desk, played rugby as foes for 5 years and greeting you on the runway at Rundu that September 1987, I never expected for you to go so soon. May you rest in peace my friend and may you somehow find this message that I leave for you here. bazil johnson
Hey Bud, 23 years sounds like a long time, but it could have been yesterday! You were respected and we still honour you.
So many years ago, but still remember your faces like yesterday , U our hero's !!!!!!
I think of Wane, Jean, Hughes, Dirk, Raymond and Nic so often. They were so young it is difficult to believe it has been 23 years. It is really good to see others remember them too. The evening before the attack Raymond was in good form keeping everyones spirits up, he always enjoyed himself. Hughes was a good friend of Raymond and they were together with their crowd. Dirk was quiet and kept to himself, he wrote a letter to his parents, I later found out that the army found the letter and delivered it to them. Wane was a close friend and he told me he feared the worst, he was one of the nicest people I have ever had the priveledge of knowing. Jean Schuurman was also a considerate and gentle, a very nice guy. Nic Olivier did not train with us so we did not know him as well as each other but he was a decent guy and he treated us well. I remember he played chess and was some kind of a champion at school.
I've met Jean Schuurman at the pool table at the Ondangwa Ops Hospital during September 1987. I was a 26 year old 2Lt.(doctor) at the hospital and Jean was an ops medic at the parabats, stationed not far from us in the same base. He called me his neighbor,since he was from Grey College Bloemfontein and I was a Kovsie. I was with the parabats, as one of their doctors, on October 31 during Operation Firewood. When Jean was wounded we did our best to help him untill he was casavaced by copper to Ondangwa. We arrived a day later at Ondangwa. Jean was still alive. I played my music tapes for him in the ward. He got tears in his eyes when Sias Reynecke's "ou Karooland" was playing and wanted us to play it several times. I took him down to 1 Mil in the C130 the next day (I think it was November 2, 1987). On the way down, somewhere over Botswana, Jean's pupils started dilating and I knew that he was leaving us. I was holding his left hand while he was dying and I was praying for him. I am sure that he was at piece with God. Every year on October 31, I think of the brave men who died on that day during 1987. Capt Rademeyer, Cpl Olivier, Lt Botes, Light, De La Rose and all the others. May they rest in piece and I hope that the Lord had brought His healing to the broken hearts of the parents and family of these brave men.
Brave souls each and everyone that passed that fateful day 31/10/1987. Dear friend and remembered each day Wayne Ewels small in stature like myself, but with heart of a lion.I have and will always live each day to its best in your and all our fallen friends honour.Rest in peace , missed always.
Dedications 3
1 Parachute Battalion - Code of Honour I am a proud and fully pledged member of this Parachute Battalion. I am a member of a unit which is second to none in the world. I promise to serve my country and my nation at all times with pride and loyalty. I promise to wear the insignia of my unit with pride and distinction and to conduct myself at all times as is required of a paratrooper. During battle I am first and foremost a paratrooper and promise to behave as such even if the enemy by far outnumber us. I pledge the highest sacrafice to my country should it be expected of me. I believe in myself, I believe in my unit, I believe in my country, and above all, I
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!
We were Soldiers, once, and young! It is sixteen years ago today that our brave comrades paid the highest price for their unit and their country. Today we your old comrades remember you and your families. May God grant your families peace. Time may heal the pain but we will never forget you. St Michael, Our Lady Queen of Angels defend us in combat, Defend Us in Battle Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and ALL the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin