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Mason , Mark (M)

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Photo of Mason
Identity
Person No.
31667
Old ROH no.
915
Service No.
79613162BG
Last Name
Mason 17
First Name
Mark
Initials
M
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1964 (±1 yr) 296
Age at Death
18
Death Record
Date of Death
18 February 1982 199
Cause code
FF 52
Friendly fire
Cause of Death
Died in Friendly Fire Incident 40
Died in Friendly Fire Incident, with friendly SWADF forces, at Ondangwa, Namibia. Both patrols had been told that there were no friendly forces in the area so when they happened upon one another, the shooting started. Two other SWADF men were also killed
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
1 Parachute Battalion 43
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
3 Bn 4
Defence Force
SADF 3,834
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,873
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
JOHANNESBURG (WEST PARK) CEMETERY 478
Grave Reference
Gen B 6629 1
Coordinates
-26.15926, 27.9943 OSM
Unit History
Role at time of death
Airborne light infantry (paratroops)
Status
Regular Force
Part of
44 Parachute Brigade
Raised 1 April 1961 at Tempe. First battalion of 44 Parachute Brigade from 1978.
Notes

Son of Joan Edith and the late Robert Mason, of 9 Elmount Court, 81 Hopkins Street, Bellevue.

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 1
by Dave Mason Unknown on 30 May 2001 · via source
We were told of Mark's death the day afterwards. I was told that it had been an accident as the contact had been with friendly SWATF forces. Both patrols had been told that there were no friendly forces in the area so when they happened upon one another, the shooting started. My brother and 2 SWATF servicemen were killed. I was invited to the hearing in Ondangwa by the SAP who were handling the investigation and was told I would be contacted. The next thing I knew we read in the Citizen newspaper that no-one was found guilty of the error which caused my brother's death. I was furious. I had just left the SAAF after doing my National Service AND had actually joined PF to do Pilot's Course 1/81 but resigned. I contacted a friend who had been on Officer's Course with me, Lt Johan Loots, who was a lawyer and asked him to find out as much info as possible. After 4 months he told me that he had been warned off from the case. I never got to find out the whole story nor who had made the error. I never knew why the SAP never got back to me and I had to read about it in the local paper. Truth is all of the guys died for nothing because, a.) The communists were never the threat they were made out to be and b.) We could never hold on to SWA nor even South Africa coz "the times were a-changin'". Would still like to know why, though. Miss you, Mark. Dave Mason, Bangkok, Thailand.
Dedications 4
on 30 May 2001 · via source
Mark was my brother and was serving with 1 Parachute Battalion in Namibia when he was killed on 18 February 1982. You are still sorely missed, buddy. Dave Mason, Thailand.
on 18 September 2003 · via source
Paratrooper?s Prayer Heavenly Father, King of the world I know that all things are in your hands, whatever happens to me. As a paratrooper I am prepared to suffer hardship. I am ready to endure danger and unrest, pain and hurt. I am willing to be hungry end thirsty. I am prepared to face the enemy fearlessly. Lord I am weak. I cannot depend on my own strength. I do not want to trust in my own abilities. Lord my God; Let me trust in you alone. Give me courage and strength, and, above all, faith to do my work fearlessly ?
by Cliff Jooste on 18 February 2004 · via source
Today marks 22 years, and I still miss you my friend. Looking forward to a heavy jol, when we meet up again one day.
by his brother, Dave Mason) (via Johan Schoeman, War in Angola) on 17 July 2019 · via War in Angola
Photo of Mark taken during his last visit to his family, sometime in Dec 1981 or Jan 1982... (sent in by his brother, Dave Mason)

Source: https://rohsa.co.za/person.php?PersonNumber=31667&pdf=1

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South African Roll of Honour — Remembering those who served and fell. Lest We Forget.