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Pearson , Leon Frederick (L F)

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Photo of Pearson
Identity
Person No.
32455
Old ROH no.
1120
Service No.
80490592BG
Last Name
Pearson 10
First Name
Leon Frederick
Initials
L F
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1965 (±1 yr) 279
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
04 January 1984 121
Cause code
KIA 14,778
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,654
Killed in action, while exiting a Ratel to conduct a dismounted attack on the Cuvelai trenches during Op Askari
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
4 South African Infantry Battalion 97
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,843
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
Mpumalanga 425
Cemetery
BALFOUR CEMETERY 6
Grave Reference
A4 1
Operation
Operation
Askari
Dates
1983-12-09 to 1984-01-19
About
Major SADF operation into southern Angola against SWAPO and, for the first time on this scale, directly-engaged FAPLA forces around Cuvelai and Cahama; unexpectedly heavy FAPLA/Cuban resistance and losses on both sides contributed to the diplomatic track that produced the February 1984 Lusaka Accord.
Unit History
Part of
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — Motorised Infantry — Regular
Awards
Pro Patria Medal
Pro Patria Medal
South Africa
Pro Patria Medal warrant, Government Gazette No. 5171 (25 Jun 1976), Rule 5, as amended by GG No. 5575 (3 Jun 1977); discontinued by GG No. 25213 (25 Jul 2003, Schedule corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 Sep 2004) for service on/after 27 Apr 2003. Gazette extracts: https://rohsa.co.za/award.php?id=24
Notes

Son of Mrs. J. C. M. du Plessis, of Balfour.

Research notes

Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2017: lists him among eight 4 SAI occupants of Ratel 20 Callsign 13C, T-54 HE near Cuvelai, Ops Askari. ROH CauseDeath and a memorial note (Flip van Wyk) record that he was shot while exiting the vehicle for a dismounted attack, not inside the Ratel. First name spelled Frederick in Graham's post (ROH had Fredrick). | Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2024: repeats the eight 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C names, T-54 HE near Cuvelai, Ops Askari. Pearson and P.D. Pretorius occupancy (inside 13C vs exiting for a dismounted attack) left as previously noted from ROH / Flip van Wyk.
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
on 24 October 2009 · via source
Killed in Action (Tank took out Ratel) 4 th January 1984
on 15 May 2012 · via source
He was actually shot and killed was not in the ratel Flip van Wyk
Dedications 1
on 06 November 2008 · via source
Na al die jare het ek ook nog nooit vergeet nie Flip van Wyk