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Kruger , Gilderoy (G)

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Photo of Kruger
Identity
Person No.
31167
Old ROH no.
747
Service No.
81122756BG
Last Name
Kruger 143
First Name
Gilderoy
Initials
G
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1966 (±1 yr) 251
Age at Death
18
Death Record
Date of Death
15 January 1984 96
Cause code
ACC 1,584
Accident
Cause of Death
Died of accidental injuries 71
Died of accidental injuries, at Oshivello. While cleaning 20mm anti aircraft cannons after Op Askari, a round was found to be stuck in the breech of a cannon. During efforts to remove it, it exploded, fatally wounding him in the stomach
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
10 Anti Aircraft Regiment 15
Corps
South African Artillery 719
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
1st Bn.
Defence Force
SADF 3,825
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,869
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
JOHANNESBURG (WEST PARK) CEMETERY 478
Grave Reference
Grave 566 1
Coordinates
-26.15926, 27.9943 OSM
Operation
Operation
Askari
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
Role at time of death
Air Defence Artillery
Status
Permanent Force (Regular)
Listed under the regular subsection of the SA Army Air Defence Artillery Formation. Exact formation date not given in the source.
Notes

Son of Mrs. O. K. Kruger, of Johannesburg.

Research notes


4 Sep 2026: Unit leftover "10 Anti Aircraft Regiment" (a named regiment, not a sub-unit) moved to Regiment. Corps unchanged. | Gunners Association RoH lists them (South African Border War 1984 Gunner G. Kruger) - https://www.gunners.org.za/home-2/roll-of-honour/
14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added -- database-wide sweep for SADF Border War operational-area deaths within the medal's gazetted window (25 Jun 1976 - 27 Apr 2003), per the warrant's died-before-qualifying-period provision. See PersonAward.Citation for the gazette references.
14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added earlier today REVERTED -- John obtained the actual Government Gazette (GG 5171/5575); the "died before completing the qualifying period" provision relied on does not exist in the primary text (it was a secondary-source claim). Actual Rule 5 requires (a) combat/enemy-caused incident, (b) a Ministerially-acknowledged operation (clasp), or (c) 55+ continuous/90+ non-continuous days in an operational area -- none of which this record's cause of death clearly demonstrates.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 2
on 24 October 2009 · via source
The young (18) A.A. Gunner blown in half by a 20mm shell. 15 th January 1984 Niel Wiid
on 28 December 2011 · via source
26 years later I still remember the scene of that day as if it was yesterday steve
Dedications 2
by jkwilson123 on 17 April 2017 · via War in Angola
I was 3 feet away from him... An HE round....He had no chance. A massive loss to our team. Such a terrible accident. Not a single injury or loss of life during the OPs and such a shame to go the way he went....RIP my friend...
by Johan Schoeman on 22 January 2024 · via War in Angola
See "Gunner dies on border" - Daily Dispatch 21 January 1984