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Leonard , Terence Paul (T P)

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Photo of Leonard
Identity
Person No.
31310
Old ROH no.
807
Service No.
73509275BB
Last Name
Leonard 11
First Name
Terence Paul
Initials
T P
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1957 (±1 yr) 432
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
28 November 1976 240
Cause code
MVA 2,633
Motor vehicle accident
Cause of Death
Died from head injuries in a Military Vehicle Accident 1
Died from head injuries in a Military Vehicle Accident, 5 km outside Grootfontein, on the Tsumeb road
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
2 South African Infantry Battalion 50
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,832
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,874
Locality
KwaZulu-Natal 1,589
Cemetery
MTUBATUBA (DUKUDUKU) CEMETERY 7
Grave Reference
Alternative Commemoration until grave found 4
Unit History
Part of
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — Motorised Infantry — Regular
Notes

Son of Mr. M. A. Leonard, of Mtubatuba.

Research notes


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.
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
by Jonathan Balladon on 08 August 2012 · via source
Terry was with me at the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn in 1975. we were posted to 2SAI Bn Gp (Walvisbay) and we trained the next intake there until being posted up to the "OPS" area. we were sent to different sectors so I never saw him again. On returning to Grootfontein after our border duty, I was looking forward to seeing him again when we were told that the "Buffel" driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and the truck had rolled. Terry was the only one killed. I think he was 19. I walked around the hospital for a long time ...wondering if I should ask to see his body....to say good bye....but never did.
on 11 November 2012 · via source
CPL Leonard was a section leader when I did my 1 year national service at 2 SAI in Walvis Bay. We all went to the boarder together. Terry and his section stayed in the tent next to mine at Nkongo up North. He had a special heart for sharing the gosple with his men and I often heard him pray with his guys. After 4 and a half months living in the bush we came to the end of our stint in Ovambu and were retreating back to our base in Walvis Bay. We had not seen normal civilization or a tar road all this time. 5 km before reaching Grootfontein the accident happened. I travelled on the Unimog, 2 vehicles behind his Unimog and was shocked at the scene that lay before us as we came round the bend. Apparently the driver fell asleep and the Unimog rolled and landed at the side of the road on its roof. We comforted the injured, loaded their equipment, kit, rifles, etc that lay scattered around and took it with us to Grootfontein. Unfortunately we were informed that Terry had passed away. What comforted me in this sad situation was that he had such a strong believe in God, and that he went home to be with his creator. It is now 36 years later and this sad memory is still clear in my mind. I salute all those who were with me in 1976 at 2 SAI in Walvis Bay. They were tough times with good memories as well as the sad loss of CPL Terry Leonard. From L/CPL Simon van der Meulen Simon van der Meulen smeulen@icon. co. za
Dedications 1
by Smith on 18 June 2003 · via source
Terry was in 2 SAI Bn. He was killed as the unit was returning from a six month stint on the border. Peter L.