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Smith , Abraham Jacobus (A J)

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Photo of Smith
Identity
Person No.
33005
Old ROH no.
1312
Service No.
76014059PE
Last Name
Smith 324
First Name
Abraham Jacobus
Initials
A J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1943 (±1 yr) 117
Age at Death
34
Death Record
Date of Death
28 January 1977 117
Cause code
AA 1,735
Aircraft accident
Cause of Death
Died from injuries received in an aircraft accident at Grootfontein SWA 1
Died from injuries received in an aircraft accident at Grootfontein SWA, in Piper PA28 Cherokee
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
32 (Buffalo) Battalion 275
Later renamed 32 Battalion
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,843
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
THABA TSHWANE (NEW) MILITARY CEMETERY 592
Grave Reference
Grave 924 1
Coordinates
-25.78214, 28.12179 OSM
Unit History
Attached To
61 Mechanised Battalion Group
Notes

Son of Mr. Smith, of Pretoria.

Research notes


14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added -- database-wide sweep for SADF Border War operational-area deaths within the medal's gazetted window (25 Jun 1976 - 27 Apr 2003), per the warrant's died-before-qualifying-period provision. See PersonAward.Citation for the gazette references.
14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added earlier today REVERTED -- John obtained the actual Government Gazette (GG 5171/5575); the "died before completing the qualifying period" provision relied on does not exist in the primary text (it was a secondary-source claim). Actual Rule 5 requires (a) combat/enemy-caused incident, (b) a Ministerially-acknowledged operation (clasp), or (c) 55+ continuous/90+ non-continuous days in an operational area -- none of which this record's cause of death clearly demonstrates.

Citations
Unknown
External References
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