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Koen , Petrus Gerhardus Lourens (P G L)

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Photo of Koen
Identity
Person No.
31117
Old ROH no.
721
Service No.
84464296BG
Last Name
Koen 14
First Name
Petrus Gerhardus Lourens
Initials
P G L
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1969 (±1 yr) 301
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
18 September 1988 132
Cause code
MVA 2,632
Motor vehicle accident
Cause of Death
Died of injuries 578
Died of injuries, at 1 Military Hospital, received in a Military Vehicle Accident, between Ogongo and Okalongo on 16 Sep. Ratel overturned
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
61 Mechanised Battalion Group 23
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,830
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,873
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
PRETORIA (ZANDFONTEIN) CEMETERY 51
Grave Reference
Block Q, Grave 862 1
Memorial
Memorial
National Gunners' Memorial, Potchefstroom
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
Unit History
Role at time of death
Mechanised Infantry (combined-arms battalion group)
Status
Regular Force
Part of
South African Defence Force (1957–1994) — I South African Corps (1 SA Corps) — Battlegroups
Formed 1978 as Battle Group Juliet (SWAPO counter-insurgency, Ovamboland); formally named 61 Mechanised Battalion (Group) January 1979; disbanded 2005 at Lohatla. "Battalion Group" reflects its integral combined-arms structure: two Ratel-20-mounted infantry companies, an armoured car/tank squadron (Eland/Ratel-90, later Olifant), an integral G5 howitzer artillery battery, an 81mm mortar platoon, an anti-tank platoon, and an anti-aircraft troop -- not merely units attached for one operation. Fought at the Battle of the Lomba River, 1987. No evidence found that it was ever subordinated to or redesignated as a "61 Mechanised Brigade" -- see the note on that separate OrgEntity record.
Notes

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Piet G. L. Koen

Research notes

Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 18 Sep 2025: 84464296BG 2/Lieutenant Petrus Gerhardus Lourens Koen, 61 Mechanised Battalion Group, critically injured 16 September 1988 when his Ratel overturned between Ogongo and Okalongo in Northern Owamboland; succumbed to his injuries at 1 Military Hospital Pretoria on 18 September 1988, age 19.
National Gunners' Memorial, Potchefstroom (photograph supplied by John, 16 Sep 2026): listed as "2LT P.G.K. KOEN", rank confirmed. CONFLICT flagged, not changed: the memorial gives initials "P.G.K." against the stored "Petrus Gerhardus Lourens" (P G L) -- the third initial differs (K vs L). Possible engraving error or a stored-name error; not resolved.
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 18 Sep 2026: "84464296BG 2/Lieutenant Petrus Gerhardus Lourens Koen from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was critically injured on 16 September 1988 when his Ratel overturned while traveling between Ogongo and Okalongo in Northern Owamboland. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he succumbed to his severe injuries on 18 September 1988. He was 19." RESOLVES the initials conflict flagged from the National Gunners' Memorial on 16 Sep 2026: Graham independently gives the forenames "Petrus Gerhardus Lourens", matching THIS record, against the memorial's engraved "P.G.K." The stored name stands; the engraving is the odd one out. Graham also adds where the Ratel overturned, between Ogongo and Okalongo.
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 23 Sep 2026 (23 Sep 2026): HIS FATHER IS ALSO ON THIS ROLL and they are buried together -- Colonel Petrus Gerhardus Lourens Koen (41835), Technical Service Corps attached to 91 Ammunition Depot, who died of a pulmonary embolism in 1 Military Hospital on 23 September 1993, aged 49, five years after his son. Graham notes the shared grave explicitly. This explains why two records carry the identical full name. He also renders the son's name as "2/Lieutenant Gerhardus Lourens Koen", without the leading Petrus -- worth weighing against the National Gunners' Memorial, which inscribes this man as "2LT P.G.K. KOEN".
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Army" was CLEARED as a duplicate. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word repeating what the Branch column already says. Secondary Unit is for sub-units -- a company, a squadron, a commando -- and this record's branch of service is unchanged at "Army".

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 2
on 25 April 2009 · via source
While on patrol, his Ratel started "Snaking" and capsized. Phillip was caught under the Ratel, from the waist down. We were called to assist as 61 Mech was stationed at our base as visitors at the time. I was an Ops Medic with the RM at the time. Phillip was a friend in the short time I got to know him and will be sorely missed. L/Cpl JC Koen
by Graham Du Toit on 19 September 2014 · via source
18 Sep 1988: 84464296BG 2/Lieutenant Petrus Gerhardus Lourens Koen from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was critically injured on 16 September 1988 when his Ratel overturned while traveling between Ogongo and Okalongo in Northern Owamboland. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he succumbed to his injuries on 18 September 1988. He was 19.
Dedications 1
by Russell Howard on 16 October 2001 · via source
To Lt Koen, the best "loot" in the entire Artillery. You were more than a Lt to me, you were a friend. You are sorely missed.