Identity
Person No.
30396
Old ROH no.
490
Service No.
81251506BG
Last Name
First Name
Brian
Initials
B
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
18
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, Ops Askari, contact with FAPLA T-54 NE of Cuvelai, Angola. 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C became immobile after detonating a landmine, then knocked out by a T-54; a high-explosive shell penetrated the right-hand door and the ammunition exploded.
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SADF 3,823
South African Defence Force
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
Operation
Dates
1983-12-09 to 1984-01-19
About
Major SADF operation into southern Angola against SWAPO and, for the first time on this scale, directly-engaged FAPLA forces around Cuvelai and Cahama; unexpectedly heavy FAPLA/Cuban resistance and losses on both sides contributed to the diplomatic track that produced the February 1984 Lusaka Accord.
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. C. L. Geen, of Roodepoort.
Research notes
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2017: 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C knocked out near Cuvelai during Ops Askari by a Soviet T-54 HE shell through the right-hand door; ammunition exploded and the vehicle burnt out. Graham lists eight occupants. ROH already records the Ratel immobilised by a landmine before the tank hit. | Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2024: repeats the eight 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C names, T-54 HE near Cuvelai, Ops Askari.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2017: 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C, T-54 HE shell near Cuvelai, Ops Askari.
-
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2024: 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C, Ops Askari, Cuvelai.
-
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 57-65 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour Member Dedication page for Steenkamp W.T. (SN 80264575BG): Ratel 20 Callsign 13B knocked out near Cuvelai by a Soviet T-54 tank shell during Operation Askari, 4 Jan 1984, all occupants killed — matches ROH's existing narrative. Operation link added.
Stories 1
Killed in Action (Tank took out Ratel) 4 th January 1984 Niel Wiid
Dedications 1
I remember Brian as Alan Geens little brother from our school days. Brian was killed when a Russian tank took out their Ratel on operations in Angola. He was supposed to be home on pass, but was needed for the ops. Still got the cut out of your death been reported in the local rag. Always remembered with fondness.