Identity
Person No.
32844
Old ROH no.
1277
Service No.
83504696BG
Last Name
First Name
Pieter Marthinus
Initials
P M
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, during an attack on the FAPLA 16 Bde, south of Chimbinga River, he was the driver of a Ratel 20 that engaged an enemy tank. While busy with this action, the Ratel was hit head on by a round from another tank, and knocked out. The gunner tried to help Schutte out of the vehicle but discovered that he had been killed instantly. Although seriously wounded, the gunner managed to exit the Ratel but died later of his wounds. Both he and the gunner were recommended for posthumous awards of the Honorus Crux
Military Service
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Unit History
Awards
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 Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Schutte, of Lichtenburg.
Research notes
Confirmed 23 Aug 2026 against the 61 Mech Veterans Association official Roll of Honour (61mech.org.za/index.php/roll-of-honour): "Rifleman P M Schutte - 11 Nov 1987 - Op Modular".
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
open source ↗
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), pages 66-76 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 1
On 11 November 1987 the leading elements of Combat Group Charlie (4SAI) came under small-arms fire during the afternoon during their attack on FAPLA. They replied with their vehicle machine-guns, causing serious casualties. One Ratel of A Company found itself face to face with a T-55. The gunner, Rifleman Marius Mitton, had immediately started to fire at the tank with a cool and deliberate mind aimed at the weak junction between the turret and the hull. With his 20mm armour-piercing ammunition, he kept up his rate of fire until the tank started to brew and burst out in flames. Unfortunately though, another T-55 hit the Ratel of Rfn. Mitton with its 100mm gun, its 100mm projectile smashed through the windscreen and killed the driver of the Ratel, Piet Schutte, with Rfn. Mitton severly wounded. Rfn. Mitton realized that the Ratel was lost but not that Piet Schutte had been killed. He elevated the 20mm gun to allow Piet to escape through his hatch, and then tried to see whether Piet needed help, but could not see him in the smoking vehicle. He struggled out of his own hatch and fell off the Ratel, as he had lost one of his legs from the blow, but did not realise it at that stage. Several members of the section dragged him and the wounded section leader clear of the burning Ratel and gave first aid until they were evacuated. Marius Mitton died on 25 November 1987 of his wounds in 1 Military Hospital, Pretoria Danie Klonus
Dedications
No dedications have been added yet.