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Pearson , Steven Dennis Oscar (S D O)

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No photograph available — remembrance poppy
Identity
Person No.
32458
Old ROH no.
1123
Service No.
72594484BG
Last Name
Pearson 10
First Name
Steven Dennis Oscar
Initials
S D O
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1957 (±1 yr) 431
Age at Death
21
Death Record
Date of Death
03 April 1978 112
Cause code
DOW 2,734
Died of wounds
Cause of Death
Died of wounds 2,436
Died of wounds, received during an ambush at a TB awaiting extraction
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
5 South African Infantry Battalion 98
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,848
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
1978 SAA (Castle–Havenga, Mennigke–Wolfgang)
Names on 1978 SAA Castle-Wolfgang
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
1978 SAA Castle-Wolfgang
On the panel
1978 Army. Right column. 8th name from the top (Pearson S.D.O.)
Unit History
Part of
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — Motorised Infantry — Regular
Notes

Son of Mr. D. O. J. Pearson

Research notes

SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1978 SAA (Castle–Havenga, Mennigke–Wolfgang)". 1978 Army. Right column. 8th name from the top (Pearson S.D.O.). DATE DISCREPANCY 25 Aug 2026: pantser.cmvo.org.za's SADF deaths PDF gives this person's Sterf (date of death) as "30 04 78" (DD MM YY) against the same ServiceNo (72594484BG) and name -- differs from this record's DateDeath (1978-04-03). Not overwritten, flagged for reference.
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 4
on 25 September 2007 · via source
Steve was 54 Bn stationed at Eenhana. Attack after a Kuku shop visit and killed just before our end of time there. We called him Simon (Simple Simon) as he believed in keeping everything simple. Was a good soldier and friend. By Mark Cronje - Miami - USA Mark Cronje
by Arnold Mazur on 11 February 2010 · via source
I was with Steve on the border in Eenana and Eludu.I would like to correct the imformation.He was with me in Charlie company 5SAI. He was shot through the groin and the bleeding could not be stopped in time. RIP my young mate. You will never grow old like the rest of us.
by Paul Ekermans on 22 July 2010 · via source
Was also with Steve on this unfortunate day. We were riding donkeys at the beginning of the shona and still have the photos of the antics . We had not moved to far on before we were fired upon from the stick houses on the left. I stll think the war was a wast of lives for what? Will always remember Steves permanent smile.
by Sam Heap on 13 July 2012 · via source
I was the platoon commander the day this happened. We were going to be picked up at a RV near the Chandelier road. We reached a shona near the pick up point and rested their in a TB for the rest of the morning. There were stray donkeys in the area and some of the guys tried to catch and ride them. Later in the day we formed up in a open area formation and crossed the shona from N to S. Enemy fire was drawn from our left flank and we formed an attacking formation to engage the enemy. Rfn Pearson was seriously wounded in the groin and he passed away before the casevac helicopter reached the location. He died in the execution of duty he had been trained for. We will remember him - may he rest in peace.
Dedications 2
by Johann Olivier on 19 September 2004 · via source
Steven Pearson was a good friend. We shared a dorm as schoolmates at De Villiers Graaf, and continued our friendship until he was finally KIA . He was a fine man who will always be remembered.
by Mark Becker (via Johan Schoeman, War in Angola) on 05 April 2019 · via War in Angola
From Mark Becker: I was on that patrol, and clearly remember that day and the events sorrounding it, RIP
The leautenant had a premonition during the night, and in the morning asked us to quitely call out numbers from the TB from left to right, so we would be prepared in case of any event. This was to make sure we were numbered for any fire and movement. We came to a shona that was quite dry, so I was with a party of 3 that split to the right, and the main patrol went left. I heard shots and in my mind though that they wanted us to run accross the shona and rejoin, my brain couldnt comprehend a contact. I then heard the sound of bullets whistling past me head, and knew this was a contact and we were drawing the fire. I shouted enemy left to my buddies and started dodge running accross the Shona. Pvt SP was with the main platoon, and they had already began to turn left and start the fire and movement while we ran to join them. Pvt SP was shot through his upper legs, passing though both main arteries. I got to him and shouted for the medic who had to retrieve his bag which was dropped during the skirmish, when he got to me, he tried to put up butterfly drip in him, but his veins had collapsed due to massive loss of blood. I dont think anything prepares you for this in life and while the Corporal was calling for his blood group and cassavac, he passed away