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Forster , Fred Johann (F J)

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Photo of Forster
Identity
Person No.
30342
Old ROH no.
464
Service No.
73442204PE
Last Name
Forster 4
First Name
Fred Johann
Initials
F J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1957 (±1 yr) 431
Age at Death
21
Death Record
Date of Death
09 April 1978 327
Cause code
SHOT 546
Shot
Cause of Death
Died in Shooting Incident 290
Died in Shooting Incident, at Katima Mulilo, accident during "livefire" shooting drills
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Candidate Officer
Regiment
1 Reconnaissance Commando 15
Later renamed 1 Reconnaissance Regiment (1996)
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,343
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SADF 3,823
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,862
Locality
KwaZulu-Natal 1,589
Cemetery
DURBAN (STELLAWOOD) CEMETERY 408
Grave Reference
Block TTG Grave 158 1
Coordinates
-29.88587, 30.97733 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. 33rd name from the top (Forster F.J.)
Unit History
Role at time of death
Special Forces (Reconnaissance)
Status
Permanent Force (Regular), some sub-units Citizen Force
The first South African Special Forces unit, established at Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, 1 October 1972. Special Forces operate as their own branch within the SANDF (not part of the Army/Navy). Some Reconnaissance Commandos had Citizen Force (reserve) components alongside the standing Permanent Force structure -- needs further research to determine which applies to a specific record/era.
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 Dr. I. F. Forster, of Durban.

Research notes

SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1978 SAA (Castle–Havenga, Mennigke–Wolfgang)". 1978 Army. Left column. 33rd name from the top (Forster F.J.).
SASFA In Memoriam (selection incomplete): passed selection but died before completing the cycle and becoming an operator (not awarded operator status). SASFA: Forster Fred J 1978. https://www.recce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/4.1.-Memoriam.pdf DATE DISCREPANCY 25 Aug 2026: pantser.cmvo.org.za's SADF deaths PDF gives this person's Sterf (date of death) as "08 04 78" (DD MM YY) against the same ServiceNo (73442204PE) and name -- differs from this record's DateDeath (1978-04-09). Not overwritten, flagged for reference. 26 Aug 2026: Unit was leftover "5 Squadron"; Regiment was "1 Reconnaissance Regiment". SAWGP Regiment 1 Reconnaissance Commando 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
Stories 1
on 24 April 2009 · via source
CO F J Forster of 1 Recce died in shooting incident at Katima Mulilo, accident during "livefire" shooting drills Johan Meyer
Dedications

No dedications have been added yet.