Pelser , Abraham Liebergh (A L)

An update - on an unofficial website ( war in Angola) there is more information on Cpl Pelzer - although I see hisname was spelt "Pelser" however there are more details; died - 8 March 1977; Nr - 72430408BC; Unit - 7 SAI RIP - Lest we forget David Sheldon

His name is on the SA War Graves Project and a picture of the relevant section of the SADF WALL OF REMEMBRANCE, VOORTREKKER MONUMENT, PRETORIA.
His date of birth is wrong as well as the spelling of his name

After adding 2 stories to the Roll of Honour database I found a further mention in Bush Warbooks;

http://www.warbooks.co.za/blogs/news/18987379-lest-we-forget-8-march

Bush War Books
08 Mar 1977: 72430408BC Corporal Abraham Liebergh Pelser from 7 SAI in a single act of heroism, saved the lives of his fellow soldiers on the afternoon of 08 March 1977. Some of the troops used to straighten the pins on the hand grenades, making them easier to extract and then hook the grenades into their webbing via the grenade handle. Unfortunately, when Abraham took off his webbing after returning to Nkurukuru Base from a patrol, his thumb caught on the grenade pin and pulled it out. The armed M26 grenade fell onto the floor in the middle of the tent and without hesitation, he dived onto the grenade and absorbed the full force of the explosion that killed him instantly but saved the lives of all the others in the tent. He was 21. (Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends)

Corporal Abraham Liebergh Pelser – A Tribute
Dave Sheldon June 2015
This is a personal tribute to Corporal AL Pelser who I knew at 4 SAI.
I started my basic training in July 1976 at 4 SAI Battalion in Middelburg, - in fact I was 17 when I went to the army and had my 18th birthday on the 3 July – great birthday.
We thought ourselves unlucky when 2 companies ( Charlie and Delta) were based at the shooting range Aasvoel Krans in the bush some 45 minute ride in a Bedford from Middelburg. But it turned into a favourite place of mine – Cycads were plentiful and as such they were the emblem of 4 SAI on our shoulder flashes, there was a great waterfall on the Klein Olifants River where we would all go for a shower after a long run back from the Shooting range where even the Major ( never Sergeant Major Holliday) and all the JL’s would strip and shower. The stars were low in the sky and magnificent and a few of us would meet at the “gocarts” after lights out and have a last call of nature and chat in low tones and laugh softly and wonder at the stars..
Corporal Pelser wasn’t my Platoon Sgt but he stood out as a fair corporal, very neat and "paraat" with a good black moustache, his troops loved him.
After basics I went to SP Guards and most of the 4 SAI intake were transferred to 7 SAI in Graskop, I assume that he also went there.
I heard 12 months later that Cpl Pelzer had died on the border by diving on a hand grenade?
The story was that some of the guys used to straighten the pins on the grenade and hook them to their webbing via the handle of the grenade - I think he or someone had taken their webbing off and hooked their thumb into the grenade ring which pulled out easily via the straightened pins and it fell on the tent floor and he dived on the grenade?

For some reason I was particularly sad about this story and also at the same time disappointed that he had done the “Grensvegter thing”..

It was only once the internet grew and I realised what could be gotten that I started researching and found and on a whim I looked up Cpl Pelser – they had his name as Pelzer and this also reflects on the engraved stone at Fort Klapperkop.

http://www.justdone.co.za/ROH/main.php?page=main

Story by ? D Sheldon (mailto:Sheldonfam@gmail.com)
on 2011-11-12 03:17:21
I think this is the Cpl Pelzer who was a Corporal at 4 SAI, Delta Company in Middelburg during my basic training in July 1976, he wasnt my Platoon Sgt but he stood out as a fair corporal, very neat and "paraat" with a good black moustache - after basics I went to SP Guards and most of the 4 SAI intake were transferred to 7 SAI in Graskop, I assume that he also went there.
I heard months later that Cpl Pelzer had died on the border by diving on a hand grenade?
Some of the guys used to straighten the pins on the grenade and hook them to their webbing via the handle of the grenade - I think he or someone had taken their webbing off and hooked their thumb into the grenade ring which pulled out easily via the straghtened pins and it fell on the tent floor and he dived on the grenade?
There is only one Pelzer in this list so it seems that he is the right person, the story though is 5th hand and 34 years old - I hope it is correct.

http://www.justdone.co.za/ROH/main.php?page=main
Story by David Sheldon (mailto:Sheldonfam@gmail.com)
on 2015-05-18 06:58:32
Hi David Sheldon again - I googled Cpl Pelsers name and found the Bush War Site http://www.warbooks.co.za/blogs/news/18987379-lest-we-forget-8-march Ive copied the whole dedication as is; Im glad Ive found the real story... 38 years on.. RIP Lest we forget... 08 Mar 1977: 72430408BC Corporal Abraham Liebergh Pelser from 7 SAI in a single act of heroism, saved the lives of his fellow soldiers on the afternoon of 08 March 1977. Some of the troops used to straighten the pins on the hand grenades, making them easier to extract and then hook the grenades into their webbing via the grenade handle. Unfortunately, when Abraham took off his webbing after returning to Nkurukuru Base from a patrol, his thumb caught on the grenade pin and pulled it out. The armed M26 grenade fell onto the floor in the middle of the tent and without hesitation, he dived onto the grenade and absorbed the full force of the explosion that killed him instantly but saved the lives of all the others in the tent. He was 21. (Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends).