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Myburgh , Gerhardus Johan (G J)

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No photograph available — remembrance poppy
Identity
Person No.
32135
Old ROH no.
1992
Service No.
78547817BG
Last Name
Myburgh 42
First Name
Gerhardus Johan
Initials
G J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1962 (±1 yr) 358
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
17 September 1981 108
Cause code
SHOT 546
Shot
Cause of Death
Died in a accidental shooting incident at Omuthiya 1
Died in a accidental shooting incident at Omuthiya. During the filming of a documentary for the SABC TV, he was killed by a 20mm HE round, fired from a Ratel
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
1 South African Infantry Battalion 111
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
61 Mechanised Battalion Group 12
Defence Force
SADF 3,852
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
SADF WALL OF REMEMBRANCE, VOORTREKKER MONUMENT, PRETORIA 1,926
Grave Reference
Alternative Commemoration until grave found 1,612
Memorial
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
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Unit History
Attached To
61 Mechanised Battalion Group
Role at time of death
Mechanised Infantry (combined-arms battalion group)
Status
Regular Force
Part of
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — Mechanised Infantry — Regular
Part of
South African Defence Force (1957–1994) — I South African Corps (1 SA Corps) — Battlegroups
Formed 1978 as Battle Group Juliet (SWAPO counter-insurgency, Ovamboland); formally named 61 Mechanised Battalion (Group) January 1979; disbanded 2005 at Lohatla. "Battalion Group" reflects its integral combined-arms structure: two Ratel-20-mounted infantry companies, an armoured car/tank squadron (Eland/Ratel-90, later Olifant), an integral G5 howitzer artillery battery, an 81mm mortar platoon, an anti-tank platoon, and an anti-aircraft troop -- not merely units attached for one operation. Fought at the Battle of the Lomba River, 1987. No evidence found that it was ever subordinated to or redesignated as a "61 Mechanised Brigade" -- see the note on that separate OrgEntity record.
Notes

Son of Mr. D. G. Myburgh, of Elandsfontein.

Research notes

Confirmed 23 Aug 2026 against the 61 Mech Veterans Association official Roll of Honour (61mech.org.za/index.php/roll-of-honour): "Rifleman GJ Myburgh - 17 Sept 1981 (died while serving at the unit)".
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.
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 17 Sep 2026: 78547817BG Rifleman Gerhardus Johan Myburgh, 1 SAI attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group, killed at Omuthiya by a 20mm round when a Ratel's wheel dropped into a hole as its gunner fired during a training session filmed for a TV crew. Unit filled with the attachment (was empty). Matches otherwise.
Bushwar Books "Lest We Forget 17 September" (warbooks.co.za/posts/lest-we-forget-17-september/), cross-checked 17 Sep 2026: 1 SAI / 61 Mechanised Battalion Group, 20mm round during a TV-crew training session, age 19. Exact match; confirms the Unit filled from Graham.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 1
by Graham Du Toit on 17 September 2014 · via source
17 Sep 1981: 78547817BG Rifleman Gerhardus Johan Myburgh from 1 SAI died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained at Omuthiya. He was 19.
Dedications

No dedications have been added yet.