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Steenkamp , Wouter Theron (W T)

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Photo of Steenkamp Photo of Steenkamp Photo of Steenkamp
Identity
Person No.
33089
Old ROH no.
1340
Service No.
80264575BG
Last Name
Steenkamp 44
First Name
Wouter Theron
Initials
W T
Date of Birth
30 July 1964 98
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
04 January 1984 121
Cause code
KIA 14,778
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,654
Killed in action, Ops Askari, contact with FAPLA T-54 NE of Cuvelai, Angola. 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C became immobile after detonating a landmine, then knocked out by a T-54; a high-explosive shell penetrated the right-hand door and the ammunition exploded.
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
4 South African Infantry Battalion 97
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,848
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
Western Cape 2,137
Cemetery
STRAND (GOEDE HOOP) CEMETERY 14
Grave Reference
B2 1
Operation
Operation
Askari
Dates
1983-12-09 to 1984-01-19
About
Major SADF operation into southern Angola against SWAPO and, for the first time on this scale, directly-engaged FAPLA forces around Cuvelai and Cahama; unexpectedly heavy FAPLA/Cuban resistance and losses on both sides contributed to the diplomatic track that produced the February 1984 Lusaka Accord.
Unit History
Part of
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — Motorised Infantry — Regular
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 Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Steenkamp, of the Strand.

Research notes

Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2017: 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C knocked out near Cuvelai during Ops Askari by a Soviet T-54 HE shell through the right-hand door; ammunition exploded and the vehicle burnt out. Graham lists eight occupants. ROH already records the Ratel immobilised by a landmine before the tank hit. | Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 04 Jan 2024: repeats the eight 4 SAI Ratel 20 Callsign 13C names, T-54 HE near Cuvelai, Ops Askari. | Colyn Brookes, Mibisa: Volume One – Western Cape (Lulu, 2013, ISBN 9781447682523): Strand Cemetery Hero’s Acre B2, Hero's Acre B2.
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 3
by Gary Coetzee on 22 June 2006 · via source
Wouter, ek dink aan jou. Ek onthou nog goed die oggend voor die voorval; toe ons nog lekker saam gelag het. Wat daarna gebeur het sit ongelukkig nog steeds met my...
by Renier on 26 March 2008 · via source
Ek onthou nog die oggend voor Cuvelai soos gister. Saam het ons grappies gemaak, maar min het ons geweet wat sou kom. Ons sal julle nie vergeet nie.
on 24 October 2009 · via source
Killed in Action 4 th January 1984
Dedications

No dedications have been added yet.