Identity
Person No.
31988
Old ROH no.
982
Service No.
77246502BT
Last Name
First Name
Errol Carl
Initials
E C
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
DROW 1,204
Drowned
Cause of Death
Drowned, went rowing on the Cunene river in a dugout canoe. He and his friend tried to go over the weir but they were caught in the rushing water, where E Moolman went missing, suspected drowned
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Unit
Secondary Unit
Att 102 Battalion
Defence Force
SADF 3,834
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Coordinates
Panel
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Unit History
Role at time of death
Infantry
Status
Active Citizen Force (Reserve)
Part of
Originated 1905 as the Transvaal Cycle Corps; became 11th Infantry (Rand Light Infantry) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force in 1913; renamed Rand Light Infantry 1932. Merged with Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles 1942-45 (WWII), re-established as a reserve unit post-war, serving in the Border War.
Notes
No additional information known at this time
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
open source ↗
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), pages 114-116 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 2
Date : 08/02/1982 at 09h30 Place : Calueque Barrage in the Cunene River 30 Km north of the SWA border in Angola. L/Cpl EC Moolman and Cpl FC Rudolph were washed over the barrage weir. They were both caught in the current and the turbulent down draft caused by the fast flowing water pulled them both down. With a great struggle Cpl FC Rudolph managed to swim out of the fierce vortex but L/Cpl EC Moolman was pulled down. His body never reappeared. We searched the banks of the river for 3 days and nights using inflatable rubber boats and search lights. At night with in the search lights we saw many crocodiles on the river banks and on the islands between the reeds. L/Cpl EC Moolman's body was never found. WO2 JJ van Jaarsveldt
L/Cpl EC Moolman and Cpl FC Rudolph were off duty at the time and canoeing in a Makoro (local wooden dugout canoe) above the Calueque barrage. As explained by JJ above they were caught in the current and pulled through the furthest sluice on the North Western side of the dam. They both surfaced just below the sluice but were sucked back down again and only Cpl FC Rudolph resurfaced. We thoroughly searched the banks and islands for days after the incident but found nothing. A tragic accident.
Dedications 2
Greatly missed, but closure finally obtained. Rest in peace. Yvette - sister
It is only after so so many years that you fully realise the price they and their families paid and still pay. Every year we have remembrance day (ANZAC day) in Australia and there is a South African contingent (SADF expats) that march with pride ??? As his acting platoon commander at the time of the accident my thoughts turn to him each year at this time. Lest we forget..