Identity
Person No.
30565
Old ROH no.
539
Service No.
65658270PE
Last Name
First Name
Lucas Gerhardus
Initials
L G
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
29
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
DROW 1,203
Drowned
Cause of Death
Died in Freak Accident: accidentally drowned at Wepener during a parachute jump with full kit in the early hours of the morning, at the start of D Company Conventional training. He landed in the deep end of a farm dam and became entangled with his kit rope; the prevailing wind caused the parachute to drag him under the water. He surfaced a few times shouting for assistance, but had already drowned by the time help arrived
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Major
Regiment
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
"B" Coy.
Defence Force
SADF 3,828
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Coordinates
Panel
On the panel
1978 Army. Left column. 43rd name from the top (Grundling L.G.)
Unit History
Role at time of death
Field Engineers
Status
Permanent Force (Regular)
Part of
Formed 1973 from 17 Field Squadron (relocated from Potchefstroom to Bethlehem, 1967); listed as the primary deployment unit of the SA Army Engineer Formation's regular units.
Notes
No additional information known at this time
Research notes
SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1978 SAA (Castle–Havenga, Mennigke–Wolfgang)". 1978 Army. Left column. 43rd name from the top (Grundling L.G.).
4 Sep 2026: Unit leftover "2 Field Engineer Regiment" (a named regiment, not a sub-unit) moved to Regiment. Corps unchanged.
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 7 Sep 2026: confirmed (post spells first name "Lukas", ROH has "Lucas" -- not changed, a plausible spelling variant). CauseDeath enriched with the fuller circumstance.
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 17-18 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 3
The roll of honor is about my father, not the idiot Leonie. The only invitation I want, is to my mother, Annatjie's, funeral, unless that has already happen. I have had to learn not to need or depend, or want family so; I have zero. Luanica Grundling.
07 Sep 1978: 65658270PE Major Lukas Gerhardus Grundling from 1 Parachute Battalion was accidentally drowned at Wepener during a daylight jump with full kit in the early hours of the morning at the start of D Companies Conventional training. He landed in the deep end of a farm dam and became entangled with his kit rope and with the prevailing wind, the chute dragged him under the water. Although he did surface a few times screaming for assistance, by the time help arrived, he had already drowned. He was 29.
He was 29years of age.Major Lukas Grundling jumped from the plane before his troops, at Wepener, FreeState, SouthAfrica. It was degrees below zero. He landed in a farm dam. Military Court Cases never revealed the exact reason for his death. His family was simply told that he "drowned". Then again "heart failure from the icy dam" was blamed for his death. Foul play was suspected. He was survived by his wife Annatjie and three daughters Luanica,Esme,Leonie. Daughter Leonie was reported missing by Knysna Police in Oct2008. I know that Lukas would find her!! <o:lock aspect
Dedications 2
A true soldier. A man of huge courage. ettienne de Beer ettienne.de
And he served in 1 Parachute Battalion. Please add that to his details.