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Lotter , Lucas Frederick (L F)

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No photograph available — remembrance poppy
Identity
Person No.
31385
Old ROH no.
829
Service No.
74304841PE
Last Name
First Name
Lucas Frederick
Initials
L F
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
29
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,779
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, struck in the back of the head by a single round that bounced off the hatch of the Caspir. It was early / mid evening and they were following up on spoor just North of Alpha tower. They were fired on and the Major was killed. They came back to Etali base but he was then already declared dead
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Major
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,828
South African Defence Force
Awards
Pro Patria Medal
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

Husband of Sgt. (Mrs.) S. Lotter

Research notes


25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Air Force" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Army". Across the roll 787 records carried such a contradiction; judged against Corps and Regiment -- independent of both columns -- the evidence backed Branch 744 times and Unit2 not once. Branch is therefore kept and the contradicting word removed. Nothing is guessed: this man's branch of service is already recorded, and his sub-unit, if any, is simply not known.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 2
on 30 May 2001 · via source
As far as I know he was killed just North of the SWA/Angolan border by a single bullet while standing in the hatch of a Caspir. He was from 53 Bn in Ondangwa.
by Mark Davies Mark Davies on 11 January 2002 · via source
He was struck in the back of the head by a single round that bounced off the hatch of the Caspir. It was early / mid evening and they were follwing up on spoor just North of Alpha tower. They were fired on and the Major was killed. They came back to Etali base and he was then already declared dead by the Doc. We brought him back to 53 to his wife that night.
Dedications 3
by SS on 30 May 2001 · via source
One of the better Intelligence Officers of the SA Intelligence Corps. I salute you Fred.
by Iain on 17 January 2002 · via source
I met Fred at Army College in 1980. He was a very amusing and pleasant person, and could laugh at adversity - he had a very infectious laugh! R.I.P., Fred.
by Jacques de Ridder on 02 April 2013 · via source
Fred was my Intelligence Officer (85-86) 53Bn - Ondangwa ! I only have the highest praise for him ! Had no idea he was KIA ? Sorry to hear ! I distinctly remember him banging me against my head after inserting my arm in the hollow of a tree to lift an AK47 cache (after a "PB" gave us the information of its whereabouts) near Oshakati ! He pointed out that it could have been booby-trapped ! I was a very eager DP (dienspligtige) then ! May you RIP Majoor Fred Lotter !!!