PDF
« Previous

Prinsloo , Willem Johannes Steenkamp (W J S)

Next »
Photo of Prinsloo
Identity
Person No.
32597
Old ROH no.
1749
Service No.
74474008BT
Last Name
Prinsloo 77
First Name
Willem Johannes Steenkamp
Initials
W J S
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1958 (±1 yr) 437
Age at Death
22
Death Record
Date of Death
07 March 1980 149
Cause code
KIA 14,778
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,654
Killed in action, at the Chandelier near Elundu when a booby-trapped landmine coupled together with other improvised explosive devices, exploded while they were in the process of defusing it
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Sapper
Regiment
2 Field Engineer Regiment 41
Corps
South African Engineer Corps 743
Later renamed South African Corps of Engineers
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
13 Field Squadron
Defence Force
SADF 3,839
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
Free State 737
Cemetery
ODENDAALSRUS CEMETERY 7
Grave Reference
Grave 693 1
Memorial
1980 Army (Abel–Ralikwatha). Photograph: South African War Graves Project.
Names on 1980 Army Abel-Ralikwatha
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
1980 Army Abel-Ralikwatha
On the panel
1980 Army. Right column. 41st name from the top (Prinsloo W.J.S.)
Unit History
Role at time of death
Field Engineers
Status
Permanent Force (Regular)
Part of
Engineer Formation — Regular
Formed 1973 from 17 Field Squadron (relocated from Potchefstroom to Bethlehem, 1967); listed as the primary deployment unit of the SA Army Engineer Formation's regular units.
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. W. Prinsloo, of Odendaalsrus.

Research notes

Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 07 Mar 2024: 74474008BT Sapper Willem Johannes Steenkamp Prinsloo, 13 Field Engineer Squadron, Killed in Action at the Chandelier near Elundu while defusing a booby-trapped landmine coupled with other IEDs, age 22. Same 13 Field Squadron IED at the Chandelier near Elundu as Van Der Vyver D. PN 33420, Oberholzer A. PN 32352 and Prinsloo W.J.S. PN 32597. ROH parent unit is 2 Field Engineer Regiment; Unit2 already 13 Field Squadron.
SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1980 Army (Abel–Ralikwatha). Photograph: South African War Graves Project.". 1980 Army. Right column. 41st name from the top (Prinsloo W.J.S.).
4 Sep 2026: Unit leftover "2 Field Engineer Regiment" (a named regiment, not a sub-unit) moved to Regiment. Corps unchanged.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories

No stories have been added yet.

Dedications

No dedications have been added yet.