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Ribeiro , Jose Correia Pinto "carnaval" "robbie" (J C P)

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Identity
Person No.
32677
Old ROH no.
35214
Service No.
76080159PG
Last Name
First Name
Jose Correia Pinto "carnaval" "robbie"
Initials
J C P
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
25
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
Unknown
Cause of Death
Killed while evacuating battle casualties to a hospital in South West Africa
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Sergeant
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,852
South African Defence Force
Unit History
Role at time of death
Special Forces (Reconnaissance)
Status
Permanent Force (Regular), some sub-units Citizen Force
The first South African Special Forces unit, established at Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, 1 October 1972. Special Forces operate as their own branch within the SANDF (not part of the Army/Navy). Some Reconnaissance Commandos had Citizen Force (reserve) components alongside the standing Permanent Force structure -- needs further research to determine which applies to a specific record/era.
Awards
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

Robbie's brother also served with the SADF, and as Robbie was also tragically killed while doing his duty to his newly adopted country.

Research notes

SASFA In Memoriam (operators): confirmed Special Forces operator. SASFA: Ribeiro JCP KIA 1976. https://www.recce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/4.1.-Memoriam.pdf Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 25 Aug 2026: gives date as 25 Aug 1975 (this record and an existing SASFA In Memoriam citation both say 1976 -- Graham's year not applied) and unit as "32 Battalion" (this record has 1 Reconnaissance Regiment / Protected Village Protection Group -- not resolved). NOTE: PersonNumber 32678 shares this identical ServiceNo (76080159PG) with a different DateDeath (1988-01-01) and Unit (32 (Buffalo) Battalion) -- likely duplicate-person data collision, unresolved. 26 Aug 2026: Unit was leftover "Protected Village Protection Group". SAWGP Regiment 1 Reconnaissance Regiment with no separate unit.
12 Sep 2026: Thaba Tshwane (New) Grave 898 headstone photo (John Dovey, Roxo Memorial.jpeg). Inscribed "Sgt José Correia Pinto Ribeiro", died 25.08.1976 — confirms 1976 (not Graham's 25 Aug 1975). Rank/date already matched. Shared stone with Roxo (32757) and Soeiro (33044).
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 13 May 2009 · via source
José Correia Pinto Ribeiro, nome de guerre "Carnaval" was a native of the former Portuguese Colony of Guinea Bissau. Carnaval became a parabat serving with the Portuguese Paras in Guinea with the rank of Sergeant. José Ribeiro went on to make a name for himself as an exceptional Para in Guinea. When his former OC in Guinea, Colonel Costa Campos formed the GEPs (Grupos Especiais Pára - Quedistas) "Special Para Groups" in Moçambique, he arranged for a transfer for Sgt José Ribeiro to join the GEPs in that former Portuguese territory. In Moçambique while serving with the GEPs, Sgt Ribeiro became a specialist in Pseudo insurgent operations, where he and his men operated on the terrain as "insurgents". Shortly after the Portuguese Revolution of 1974, José Ribeiro joined the South African Defence Force. Ribeiro completed the Special Forces selection course and became an Operator with 1 Recce. In South Africa Carnaval was known to his friends and colleagues as Robbie Ribeiro. During Operation Savannah, Robbie was deployed into Angola on deep special operations as part of a Special Forces team. On their return to South West Africa, Roxo, Robbie, Mourão and Soeiro remained with the group of Angolans they fought in Angola with, and 32 Battalion was formed. Sgt Robbie Ribeiro was recommended for the HONORIS CRUX decoration for bravery and excellent leadership under combat by Col J Breytenbach, but sadly the decoration was not approved. Robbie Ribeiro was killed on the 25th August 1976, while evacuating battle casualties to a hospital in South West Africa. Robbie's brother also served with the SADF, and as Robbie was also tragically killed while serving for his newly adopted country. Sgt Robbie Ribeiro was awarded the PRO PATRIA medal with the Cunene clasp and the SOUTHERN AFRICA medal. Robbie Ribeiro left behind his wife and his daughter Carla. Manuel Ferreira manuelferreira@eject.co.za 2009-05-13 21:32:59 <tr class="table
on 01 December 2010 · via source
Sergeant Ribeiro was tasked with evacuating four wounded men in a Land Rover to Rundu, taking along a young National Serviceman who had just completed his tour of duty and was heading home. The six men came across a convoy of ten-ton trucks from 16 Maintenance Unit, who were approaching from the opposite direction along the dirt road that they were on. Sergeant Ribeiro moved over to the left-hand shoulder of the road, as visibily was poor due to the dust being throan up by all the vehicles as they passed one another. Unfortunately, one of the truck drivers chose this time to attempt an overtake manoeuver in order to get to the head of the convoy, and in doing so he pulled out to his right, into the path of the oncoming Land Rover, crushing the latter and killing all six men inside, including Sergeant Ribeiro. All were the "victims of a stupid mistake by a selfish driver". Information extracted from "32 Battalion - The Inside Story of South Africa's Elite Fighting Unit " by Piet Nortje Peter
Dedications 5
on 30 May 2001 · via source
Jaoa C P Ribiero Que Deus te guarde, meu Amigo Descanca em Paz Cobus Venter
by Manuel Ferreira on 13 May 2009 · via source
Descanca em paz Carnaval. Nao seras esquecido!
on 19 April 2013 · via source
dad. i was blessed to attend ur memorial, i didnt know you yet everyone sais i am YOU. Rest in Peace. carla m. p. ribeiro
on 17 August 2026 · via source
J C P Robbie (carnaval) and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150312095853/http://www.justdone.co.za/ROH/View_Person.asp?
on 17 August 2026 · via source
Just for info the two brothers died days apart