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Truebody , Herbert Charles (H C)

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Photo of Truebody Photo of Truebody
Identity
Person No.
33324
Old ROH no.
1434
Service No.
74560475BG
Last Name
Truebody 1
First Name
Herbert Charles
Initials
H C
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1959 (±1 yr) 442
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
04 May 1978 135
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,654
Killed in action, when the 90mm Eland he was a crew commander in, was hit, by a 106 recoil-less, while going through a ditch. The projectile entered the turret from the top, exactly where the front crew commanders episcope is mounted. The driver and gunner escaped with minor wounds. The turret was replaced and the car went back into action
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Unknown
Corps
South African Armoured Corps 438
Unit
2 Special Service Battalion 51
Secondary Unit
"D" Squadron
Defence Force
SADF 3,821
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,859
Locality
Western Cape 2,137
Cemetery
WINDHOEK CREMATORIUM 3
Grave Reference
Cremated - Ashes scattered in Garden of Remembrance 1
Memorial
1978 SAA (Castle–Havenga, Mennigke–Wolfgang)
Names on 1978 SAA Castle-Wolfgang
Memorial
SADF Wall of Remembrance
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa
Coordinates
-25.77639, 28.17583 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
1978 SAA Castle-Wolfgang
On the panel
1978 Army. Right column. 30th name from the top (Truebody H.C.)
Operation
Operation
Reindeer
Dates
1978-05-04 to 1978-05-06
About
Major combined airborne/mechanised cross-border operation against SWAPO/PLAN bases in southern Angola, its central action the Battle of Cassinga (4 May 1978) — a parachute assault on the SWAPO camp at Cassinga (Chetequera was the simultaneous ground target) that killed several hundred, disputed to this day between "military base" (SADF) and "refugee camp" (SWAPO/Namibian government) characterisations.
Unit History
Part of
Other listed units (not nested under a brigade above) › Units
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. C. T. Truebody. Attended Centaurus High School in Windhoek. The bridge he died on was built by his father's engineering firm.

Research notes

SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1978 SAA (Castle–Havenga, Mennigke–Wolfgang)". 1978 Army. Right column. 30th name from the top (Truebody H.C.). | Willem Steenkamp, Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola 1975–1980, 3rd ed. (Just Done Productions, 2006, ISBN 978-1-920169-00-8): killed at Chetequera (not Cassinga) in Eland One Four Bravo, hit by a 75mm recoilless gun (this record has a 106 recoilless — not overwritten). Gunner Trooper B. Gouws and driver Trooper A. F. Belo (shrapnel, right shoulder) escaped; Cpl R. G. Kanes recovered the body under fire.

Citations
Unknown
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