Identity
Person No.
30755
Old ROH no.
603
Service No.
83429985BG
Last Name
First Name
George Michael
Initials
G M
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
MVA 2,627
Motor vehicle accident
Cause of Death
Died in Military Vehicle Accident, at Mariental, Buffel rolled while trying to avoid colliding with a delivery truck, resulting in him being crushed underneath
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,822
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
Potchefstroom, North West province, South Africa
Panel
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
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
Unit History
Attached To
Role at time of death
Artillery (Composite Regiment, Potchefstroom)
Status
Permanent Force (Regular)
Part of
"4 Artillery Regiment (Composite Regiment) (Potchefstroom)" listed under the SA Army Artillery Formation's regular units. Exact formation date not given in the source.
Notes
Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Howard
Research notes
4 Sep 2026: Unit leftover "4 Artillery Regiment" (a named regiment, not a sub-unit) moved to Regiment. Corps unchanged. | Gunners Association RoH lists them (South African Border War 1987 2nd Lieutenant G.M. Howard) - https://www.gunners.org.za/home-2/roll-of-honour/
National Gunners' Memorial, Potchefstroom (photograph supplied by John, 16 Sep 2026): inscribed as "2LT G.M. HOWARD" -- rank, initials and surname all match this record exactly.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
Gunners' Association of South Africa Roll of Honour
open source ↗
South African Border War 1987 2nd Lieutenant G.M. Howard
-
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 107-108 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 3
Name George Michael Howard Unit 4 Artillery Regiment Place of Unit Potchefstroom Place of death Northern S.W.A. (assumed on Oom Willie se Pad) Date of Birth 4 July 1968 Date of Death October 1987 Cause of Death Died in a traffic accident when the Buffel in which he was travelling in rolled while trying to avoid colliding with a delivery truck. George was crushed underneath. He was my cousin...
Some information to update your records on 2lt GM Howard. Date of death was 16-10-1987 and not 01-10-1987 Force Number - 83429985BG Date of Birth - 4 July 1968 Full Names - George Michael Howard Cemetery - None, his ashes were spread in the Magaliesberg Hills. Age of Death - 19 Again, as per a previous email. The circumstances of his death ares till not clear. Although a collision between his Buffel and a truck has been stated, this is not 100% clear. George died with 2 of his men, Gnr Sean Beit and L Bmdr Peter Mansfield. I am in the process of getting his medals from the SANDF. I am his brother.
Horrifying accident just outside Mariental.I was the BSM of 44 BTY and the accident claimed 3 lifes and 7 casavacs. Drunk cattle truck driver causes the accident.2 Buffels was involved in the accident and all off the deceased was in the front vehicle After 26 years i have visited the accident site in July 2013 to pay my respect to real soldiers that died without reason. RiP 2 Lt Howard L/Bdr Mansfield Gnr Biet Dries Heyneke
Dedications 1
George, time may pass and a nation may forget, but those of us who loved you, will always remember.