Identity
Person No.
31189
Old ROH no.
757
Service No.
78457256BG
Last Name
First Name
Grant William
Initials
G W
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,779
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, shot down south-east of Cuvelai in Angola, in Aerospatiale SA3330 Puma C #132 together with 11 other soldiers of 1 Para Bn and 3 members of the SAAF
Military Service
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Unit History
Role at time of death
Airborne light infantry (paratroops)
Status
Regular Force
Part of
Raised 1 April 1961 at Tempe. First battalion of 44 Parachute Brigade from 1978.
Awards
South Africa
Pro Patria Medal warrant, Government Gazette No. 5171 (25 Jun 1976), Rule 5, as amended by GG No. 5575 (3 Jun 1977); discontinued by GG No. 25213 (25 Jul 2003, Schedule corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 Sep 2004) for service on/after 27 Apr 2003. Gazette extracts: https://rohsa.co.za/award.php?id=24
Notes
Son of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Krull
Research notes
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
-
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 50-53 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 7
JD Here is (finally and while I'm still subscribed!) that tribute to GK I mentioned that was published in the school yearbook. There is also a pic of him wearing his SADF stepouts I think, but I have yet to dig the book itself out. I got the teacher who had written it to post this to me for your ROH, you have her permission to use it, she is Dylan Weston in case you want to ascribe the words to her, she taught him in his last year or two at Sunward Park High School in Boksburg. Hope this is of use to you.
I was with Grant the day he was killed,he was our falk medic,very dedicated and commited to every one in our valk.He and 11 other great guys died that day,i will always remember them.
One of a squad of Parabats from 1 Parachute Battalion, he was flying in a SAAF SA-330C Puma helicopter, # 132, which was transporting men from 1 Parachute Battalion, when the helicopter was shot down by enemy 23 mm AA fire south-east of Cuvelai in Angola, crashing inverted. None of the Parabats or SAAF crew survived. The Parabats who died that day are commemorated on the Wall of Rememberance at 1
Grant, never a day goes by without thinking of you. My oldest son looks, talks and writes like you. He too questions the world's norms and vocalises these in an opinionated and thought provoking manner. You would have loved him. I always remember Mom saying, Grant whatever you do don't join the "Paratroopers." We had such a sense of foreboding and fear for you when you were on the border. The loss of my only much loved brother is something I have never fully come to terms with. I still suffer seperation anxiety when my children go away as I do not take it for granted that they will come home. You never came home and I spent many years illogically hoping that a mistake had been made. We never had the privilege of closure and I still have so many unanswered questions. My youth and trust in life was shattered forever when we lost you. I now live in Australia . It has has been a difficult adjustment for me as I do not transplant well. I know that you are with us in spirit You touched the lives of so many people in the short time you were on this earth. You inspired us, made us laugh with outrageous comments and also infuriated us at times..How I wish you had made safer choices. It wasn't to be. Thank you so much to those who have left a message on this site. Thank you for remembering a young man who was taken from us much too soon.
I just wanted to add a little note on here to say that more than 25 years after Grant's passing, I took my daughter who is now 12, to the SANDF memorial in Pretoria. I was just 6 years old when Grant passed away, and it was with both pride and heartsore that I could show my daughter our cousin's memorial plaque and tell her the story of Grant. Grant, you may be gone from this life, but you most definitely are not forgotten. Even by someone who was just a little girl at the time.....your memory will live on and be passed down. Until we meet again. Sandy.
It is 30 years ago that you were taken from us so tragically and yet your memory still burns so brightly in our hearts. We mourn the loss of a son, brother, uncle and family that you may have had and wonder how different our lives would have been if you had come home safely to us. You were loaned to us for such a short time but we are thankful that we had the privilege of having you in our lives our beautiful son and your memory will live in our hearts forever. You were such a caring and talented young man and we know that you would have made a difference in the lives of others. You touched the lives of so many who knew you and on your passing we received so many phone calls and letters, some even from men that had served in WW11 and it would seem that you are still being remembered by so many. Thank you to all the dear people who have written messages for him. We look forward to the day when we will all be together again - what a celebration that will be. There can never be a greater loss than that of a child - a void that can never be filled. We will always remember you our precious Son. Till we meet again Forever in our hearts Mom and Dad We also remember the young men that died with you and all their families.
I remember when Grant came to Sunward (after having been at boarding school) - a number of us (Russell, Mark, me and others) already knew him, however, he was initially a bit reticent. Soon though he became one of us and strove to do good things both in and out of the class. My best memories of him were always around sport and "recreation". A tremendous athlete, a good pivot and a reliable and supportive friend. I remember, emotionally, the day in 1982 when I attended the parade in Bloemfontein to farewell a friend. I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the school and to support another mutual friend (now for over 45 years) who was in active service with the special forces at the time Grant was killed: whilst I was in my second year of studies. Vale Grant - Gone but not forgotten Grant
Dedications 4
PRO PATRIA MORI (to die for the Fatherland) Grant Krull was in the Matric Class of 1980, at Sunward Park High. He once wrote in an essay entitled, "Is it Honourable to die for your Country?" in 1979 that, "remember that in their hearts people will remember you -- not for what you did, but for what you were." In my case I shall remember Grant both for what he did and for what he was. I remember his young, anxious face, preparing to approach the high jump. He would brace himself, almost talking himself into the jump. The muscles of his face tense and his body made taut. I remember his father sitting in the sun on a school chair willing his son over the bar. The shared glance between father and son of love and support, and then the run-up and over the bar in a roll. The look of pride fill the father's face, the relaxation of the athlete, the raising of the bar and once again the build-up! Grant was a lively, ebullient young man who questioned the accepted norms hoping to come to an understanding both of himself and the world in which he found himself. Grant showed great potential, as an athlete while at school and this gift was put to full use in the vigorous training of the parabat he later became. We, who knew Grant, shall always remember him with affection and a sense of loss. A young life put to an abrupt end is always one with which we cannot come to terms. I am very happy that I remember Grant as full of life and hope as in this way he will live forever, for me, and perhaps for you, who knew him too!
Grant, I still think of you almost every day. I still rememember the feeling of intense loss and emptiness the day I read of your death. To your other friends and family I may not even be known, however as you look down from your place in the sky, remember the words that I penned to paper during one of my quiet nights on the border 'you were a confidant and friend like no one else could be and the one thing I remember is the day that you helped me.' THANK YOU So young, so good and for ever kind. Always missed.
It is more than 20 years now but I think of you often. Your friendship and support will always be remembered. I will never live down the guilt I feel when I think of the day I heard of your passing whilst serving a 3 year sentence in Detention barracks. We may have been different but you were my friend and I will never forget that. You were a real man and you will live in my memory forever.
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