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Louw , Erasmus Johannes (E J)

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Photo of Louw
Identity
Person No.
31406
Old ROH no.
838
Service No.
70229240PE
Last Name
Louw 73
First Name
Erasmus Johannes
Initials
E J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1955 (±1 yr) 397
Age at Death
29
Death Record
Date of Death
09 September 1984 115
Cause code
ACC 1,584
Accident
Cause of Death
Died in Freak Accident 255
Died in Freak Accident, while on a training exercise at Riemvasmaak (just outside of Upington) he was accidentally shot in the back of the head with a 1 000ft Parachute Illuminating Rocket flare, by a fellow officer who was a captain and the adjutant
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Major
Regiment
8 South African Infantry Battalion 71
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,838
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,873
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
THABA TSHWANE (NEW) MILITARY CEMETERY 592
Grave Reference
Grave 1290 1
Coordinates
-25.78214, 28.12179 OSM
Unit History
Part of
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — Mechanised Infantry — Regular
Notes

Husband of Mrs. J. E. Louw

Research notes


Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 9 Sep 2026 / Bushwar Books Lest We Forget 9 September (https://www.warbooks.co.za/posts/lest-we-forget-9-september/ 70229240PE Major Erasmus Johannes Louw, 8 SAI, killed instantly when a fellow Officer (a Captain and the Unit Adjutant) accidentally shot him in the back of the head with a 1 000ft Parachute Illuminating Rocket flare during a training exercise at Riemvasmaak outside Upington, age 29. CauseDeath enriched: "flare" specified as the 1 000ft Parachute Illuminating Rocket; place spelling "Riem vas maak" normalised to Riemvasmaak; "an training" grammar fixed. Bushwar same-day post confirms the incident; it says "1 000ft rocket parachute flare" and omits "also a Captain and the Unit Adjutant" — same event, Graham more specific. Rank/unit/age already matched.
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 10
by CDD on 31 August 2006 · via source
Maj Louw was second in command of 8 SAI, Upington, Northern Cape. He was accidentaly shot in a night attack exersize. It was a freak accident and he was hit by a low aimed flair triggered by a fellow officer with the rank of Captain. May he rest in peace.
by Pierre on 24 May 2007 · via source
Maj Louw was the 2IC at 8SAI and while on a training exercise at Riemvasmak outside of Upington, he was shot in the back of his head with a flare by accident by the Adjudant.
by EJ Louw on 02 September 2010 · via source
Only recently stumbled upon this website. The person listed in this page is my dad. I was 3 at the time of his death. His date of birth was 12 February 1954 in Pretoria. Date of death was ?? September 1984. His grave is situated in the military cemetary in Pretoria. I will dig around for more info. Thanks for this website.
by RFN G A BERNICCHI on 07 December 2010 · via source
I was honored to serve under Major Louw in 1981 /1983 at 8sai Upington. He was a fair and just officer. I was saddened on hearing of his death and often think back on the time i served in the Sadf under his command. It will never be the same.......
on 17 June 2011 · via source
The then-Captain Louw was a company commander at 2 SAI Walvis Bay in 1981 when I was the signals officer. As a previous contributor stated, a kindly and pleasant man. RIP. 76595313PE
by RIP sir Eric on 31 July 2011 · via source
I was a Jan 1983 intake to 8SAI for National Service . It was baking hot and basics and beyond was hell for us at the time . Training was hard but looking back it made us into good soldiers . Some of the rank were most unpleaseant and unnecessary so but occasionally there were some signs of decency . I remeber Major Louw as an energetic, motivated Major who really got his troops motivated and was very firm on the job but very fair . He was well liked, smart and respected for the great manner in which he conducted himself and motivated others . No doubt he would have gone all the way to General .A great soldier and a good man . Remembering back , I was very sad on learning of his passing and have thought about it subsequently .
by Wayne on 02 August 2012 · via source
Although nearly thirty years have gone by since i finished the army i remember Maj Louw as well. I was part of the Jan 82 intake and was in platoon 3 Charlie company. I remember Maj Louw as a fair and well respected Officer and i was sad to hear that he had died in such a tragic accident. Unfortunately many losses were due to accidents that could have been avoided. Rest in peace Major.
on 06 June 2013 · via source
I was in the Jan 83 intake and remember this incident - Very sad. glenn
on 13 July 2013 · via source
I knew Eric quite well as I was his civvy Dominee in Walvisaai Meersig. He was a wonderful person and we remember him and his wife Elna fondly Dieks Theron
by Graham Du Toit on 09 September 2014 · via source
09 Sep 1984: 70229240PE Major Erasmus Johannes Louw from 8 SAI was killed instantly when a fellow Officer accidentally shot him in the back of the head with a 1 000ft rocket flare during a training exercise at Riemvasmaak outside Upington. He was 29.
Dedications

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