PDF
« Previous

Grobler , Leon (L)

Next »
Photo of Grobler
Identity
Person No.
30550
Old ROH no.
1789
Service No.
70523410BT
Last Name
Grobler 71
First Name
Leon
Initials
L
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1955 (±1 yr) 397
Age at Death
25
Death Record
Date of Death
27 February 1980 166
Cause code
DOW 2,733
Died of wounds
Cause of Death
Died of wounds 2,435
Died of wounds, landmine. Critically wounded when he detonated an anti-personnel mine on 20 February 1980 near Tsumeb which severed his femoral artery. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital where he underwent successful surgery. Unfortunately on 27 February 1980, the wound started bleeding again during the night and by the time this fact was detected by medical personnel, he had suffered severe blood-loss and succumbed to his injuries
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
2 Parachute Battalion 12
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,346
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,825
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,869
Locality
Mpumalanga 425
Cemetery
BETHAL NEW CEMETERY 8
Grave Reference
F11 1
Coordinates
-26.48808, 29.48463 OSM
Unit History
Part of
44 Parachute Brigade
Notes

Husband of Mrs. S. E. van Vuuren

Research notes

DATE DISCREPANCY 25 Aug 2026: pantser.cmvo.org.za's SADF deaths PDF gives this person's Sterf (date of death) as "20 02 80" (DD MM YY) against the same ServiceNo (70523410BT) and name -- differs from this record's DateDeath (1980-02-27). Not overwritten, flagged for reference.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Air Force" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Army". Across the roll 787 records carried such a contradiction; judged against Corps and Regiment -- independent of both columns -- the evidence backed Branch 744 times and Unit2 not once. Branch is therefore kept and the contradicting word removed. Nothing is guessed: this man's branch of service is already recorded, and his sub-unit, if any, is simply not known.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 1
by Susan van Vuren on 18 March 2012 · via source
Leon Grobler detonated an anti-personell mine on 20 February 1980 near Tsumeb which severed his femoral artery. He was subsequenty taken to 1 Military Hospital where he died from blood-loss on 27 February after the wound started bleeding again during the night and went unnoticed by medical personnel until it was too late to save him.
Dedications 4
on 18 September 2003 · via source
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
by Johan Hattingh on 05 May 2008 · via source
Leon, my brother-in-law. So short our time together, so happy the time you and my sis spent together there on the farm in Bethal. Thank you for all the times you lent me your bakkie so i can go visit people, not realising you bought time alone with my sis... I think back with fondness to all the times we spent together on the farm. You paid the highest price for your country, I salute you. Rest in peace, brother.. Leon, dankie vir die voorbeeld wat jy gestel het, vir die persoon wat jy was. Rus wel, ou maat..
by Susan van Vuren on 18 March 2012 · via source
Leon, my liewe man. Ons was net 1 jaar en 24dae getroud, heeltemal te kort.Ons sou op 3 Februarie 2012 33 jaar getrou wees, maar jy is 32 jaar weg. Ek mis jou steeds.
on 28 June 2012 · via source
l Gone but not forgotten. Leon 28.06.1954 - 27.02.1980 Susan van Vuren