Identity
Person No.
33016
Old ROH no.
1316
Service No.
79429882BG
Last Name
First Name
Hendrik Jacobus
Initials
H J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
DROW 1,204
Drowned
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Unknown
Unit
Defence Force
SADF 3,839
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Coordinates
Panel
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Notes
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Smith.
Research notes
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Air Force" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Army". Across the roll 787 records carried such a contradiction; judged against Corps and Regiment -- independent of both columns -- the evidence backed Branch 744 times and Unit2 not once. Branch is therefore kept and the contradicting word removed. Nothing is guessed: this man's branch of service is already recorded, and his sub-unit, if any, is simply not known.
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), page 24 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 8
He was reported missing / drowned and no body was ever found. Family believes there is more to this story than what has been told. If anyone who was with him on the SWA / Namibia border in Feb 1984 could contact me (his sister) I would appreciate it. My e-mail address is truia.vermeulen@debeersgroup.com and my contact number is 0824414506.
He was born on the 6th October 1963.
He was born on 6 October 1963. He was reported missing/possibly drowned on the SWA/Namibia border in February 1984. No body was ever found. His family does not believe in all the stories that was told to them and believes there is more behind it. I have affidavits in my posession which does not add up. If anyone who reads this was with him on the Border in Feb 1984 please contact his sister, Truia Vermeulen, contact number 0824414506.
Born on 6 October 1963. Reported missing / possibly drowned in Feb 1984 while serving on the SWA/Namibia Border. Family does not believe this. No body was ever found. I have affidavits that does not add up. If anyone reads this that could shed some light please contact me (his sister) Truia at Cell Nr 0824414506 Truia Vermeulen
Smithie, I miss you terribly. See you in heaven.
Smithie, was a great chap and taught many a chap a lesson in boxing, iwas not there when he disappeared, but will always miss his positive attitude towards life he was a well loved man a legend.
Hey Smithie, dis nou 28 jaar gelede. Voel soos gister toe ek en jy in die Kunene geswem het. Ek mis jou. Jou buddy, Oosie.
Dis nou 29 jr gelede. Voel soos gister wat ons saam uit n Dak. kon spring, ap,s in n mynveld dodge, en in die Angola son loop en Swapo,s jag het. Jy was n beast. Loop mooi buddy!
Dedications
No dedications have been added yet.