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Mann , Grant (G)

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Photo of Mann
Identity
Person No.
31564
Old ROH no.
881
Service No.
89251813BG
Last Name
Mann 11
First Name
Grant
Initials
G
Date of Birth
26 August 1970 79
Age at Death
21
Death Record
Date of Death
04 November 1991 98
Cause code
ACC 1,584
Accident
Cause of Death
Died in Freak Accident 255
Died in Freak Accident, at 10 Artillery Brigade, Potchefstroom. Grant Mann and Gunner Cameron Milton were helping a driver change a punctured wheel on a stuck Ratel in the transport park (TPT) when the vehicle's inner wheel hub ('naaf') came loose and struck Grant, decapitating him; Milton was also seriously injured, sustaining a severe head injury.
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
14 Artillery Regiment 5
Corps
South African Artillery 719
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,825
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,869
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
PANORAMA CEMETERY 11
Grave Reference
Alternative Commemoration until grave found 4
Notes

Son of Ken and Trynie Mann, of Roodepoort. He had a sister and two brothers. Educated Westridge High School

Research notes


4 Sep 2026: Unit leftover "14 Artillery Regiment" (a named regiment, not a sub-unit) moved to Regiment. Corps unchanged. | Gunners Association RoH lists them (Operational Duty Post 1989 1991 Gunner G. Mann) - https://www.gunners.org.za/home-2/roll-of-honour/
SA Weermagtevereniging / SA Defence Forces Association obituary notice for Gunner Cameron Milton (d. 6 Sep 2026), a member of the National Executive Council, gives a fuller first-hand account of this accident: it was a Ratel's inner wheel hub, not a general rim fragment, that caused the fatal injury; names Milton as the friend who survived (with a severe head injury that eventually left him wheelchair-bound) -- see the new record for Cameron Milton.
Gravestone at Panorama Cemetery gives exact DateBirth 26 Aug 1970 and confirms DateDeath 4 Nov 1991 already on file; Age 21 unchanged.
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 Ryan Palmer on 23 October 2012 · via source
Grant Mann and another gunner were changing a wheel on a vehicle in the transport park (TPT) at the 10 Artilery Brigade in Potchefstroom, when the wheel exploded and sent one of the split pieces of the rim flying through the air, both of them were injured, Grant unfortunately didnt survive the incident. I did basics with Grant in 144 battery, of 14 artilery regiment. Grant was one of the reasons why I joined the Ops Medics, I was hen sent to Pretoria to train as a medic, I returned to Potchefstroom after qualifying, I left the army in 1992. I have been in the medical field now as a paramedic for 22 years, Grant was my inspiration in becoming a Paramedic. I give credit to him that I chose this career. His loss at the time was very traumatic as I had never lost a close friend before let alone a friend in such a traumatic way. Our unit was very saddened by his loss. Grant was a very happy go lucky kind of person, I still remember this after 22 years it goes to show the impact he had at that time of my life.
on 03 February 2013 · via source
I recall clearly the accident in the vehicle yard, it happened right infront of me, Grant and another gunner were removing a G5 Cannon tractor wheel when the split rim exploded,both had severe facial injuries. I ran all the way up to the main enterance to alert the Medics,who responded and called a ambulance from Potch. Grant died from his injuries,our whole battery 144 went to his funeral, I clearly recall his sister,she was devistated. I would really like to know what happened to the guy that was also involved in the accident, we were good friends, I never saw him again afterwards. I have a photo or two of us all in Lohatla Jason Ward
Dedications 1
by John Dovey on 15 September 2026
So Sad. RIP