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Madden , Andrew John (A J)

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Photo of Madden Photo of Madden
Identity
Person No.
31471
Old ROH no.
1811
Service No.
76325646BG
Last Name
Madden 4
First Name
Andrew John
Initials
A J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1961 (±1 yr) 381
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
10 June 1980 146
Cause code
DOW 2,733
Died of wounds
Cause of Death
Died of wounds 2,435
Died of wounds, in Operation Sceptic, as a result of severe shrapnel wounds caused by anti-aircraft rounds that had penetrated the inside compartment of the Ratel he was in. He died peacefully in the arms of a good friend
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
1 South African Infantry Battalion 111
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,828
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
BOKSBURG CEMETERY 96
Grave Reference
Panel 03 1
Coordinates
-26.21977, 28.27423 OSM
Memorial
1980 Army (Abel–Ralikwatha). Photograph: South African War Graves Project.
Names on 1980 Army Abel-Ralikwatha
Memorial
SADF Wall of Remembrance
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa
Coordinates
-25.77639, 28.17583 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
1980 Army Abel-Ralikwatha
On the panel
1980 Army. Right column. 3rd name from the top (Madden A.J.)
Operation
Operation
Sceptic
Dates
1980-06-01 to 1980-06-30
About
Large mechanised operation into southern Angola against SWAPO bases around Chifufia and Mongua, notable as an early large-scale combat use of the Ratel infantry fighting vehicle and Olifant tank.
Unit History
Part of
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — Mechanised Infantry — Regular
Notes

Son of Mr. P. J. Madden, of 83 Sixth Street, Northmead, Benoni.

Research notes

SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1980 Army (Abel–Ralikwatha). Photograph: South African War Graves Project.". 1980 Army. Right column. 3rd name from the top (Madden A.J.). | Willem Steenkamp, Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola 1975–1980, 3rd ed. (Just Done Productions, 2006, ISBN 978-1-920169-00-8): named by L/Cpl Gareth Rutherford as a friend in Ratel Two One Bravo at Smokeshell who was killed minutes after firing into a PLAN casualty during the assault on the anti-aircraft guns.
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 1
on 07 January 2005 · via source
Andrew died in my arms in Angola 10th June 1980. Operation Sceptic as Smokeshell took us 80km into Angola on counterinsurgency. One of the bravest of our group, he fought to stay alive for four hours after his fateful injury. He lay under my close and desperate medical attention as the life slowly drained away. We prayed together and he gave me his rosary which he had been given by his grandmother. Rescue was delayed further and futility and sickening sadness closed over us as the sun set and the night took hold. Andrew was a gentle giant who we all respected and on occasion shielded me and other meeker comrades from some of the rougher types that were to be found in the army. Andrew was such a good all rounder and an excellent soldier. He had severe shrapnel wounds caused by anti aircraft rounds that had penetrated the inside compartment of the ratel. He had a hole in the back of his neck and under his arm. Shock and loss of blood had caused his veins to collapse. There was no pain as I spoke gently with him all the while. He died peacefully. Unknown Unknown
Dedications 2
by John Pautz on 20 December 2001 · via source
Andrew, 23 years after matriculating we are planning a school reunion and will salute you.
by Gareth on 07 January 2005 · via source
Thank you for being such a great friend. Your passing will sadden me forever and if ever there was anything I could have done more for you on that day, it still sickens me that I could not.... out there in the smoke and dust. God watched us closely that day, this I am sure of now. Bless you dear friend.