Identity
Person No.
33461
Old ROH no.
1557
Service No.
71291868KT
Last Name
First Name
Johannes Lodewikus
Initials
J L
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
27
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,779
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action. Buffel Troop Carrier detonated a boosted anti-tank mine near the Okangwati Military Base, while on route to Sodeliet base. One of the mines used was an old British Mk 8 Anti-Tank Mine and the metal plug on top of this mine penetrated the V hull of the Buffel on the welded seam. This ignited the diesel tank and a box of white phosphorus grenades in the vehicle
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Unit
Secondary Unit
"A" Coy.
Defence Force
SADF 3,828
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Unit History
Part of
SADF Commando System
category
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
Husband of Mrs. C. M. van der Merwe, of Odendaalsrus.
Research notes
MERGE 25 Aug 2026: PersonNumber 48795 ("Van der Merwe") deleted as a duplicate of this record -- identical ServiceNo (71291868KT) and DateDeath (1983-01-06), surname a spelling/OCR/case variant, confirmed via the pantser.cmvo.org.za SADF deaths PDF cross-check. Same class of error as the Sekonjela/Sekonyela merge earlier the same day. DATE DISCREPANCY 25 Aug 2026: pantser.cmvo.org.za's SADF deaths PDF gives this person's Sterf (date of death) as "01 06 83" (DD MM YY) against the same ServiceNo (71291868KT) and name -- differs from this record's DateDeath (1983-01-06). Not overwritten, flagged for reference.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
Lys van Weermaglede wat aan diens gesterf het (SADF deaths, pantser.cmvo.org.za)
open source ↗
SADF deaths PDF cross-check, 25 Aug 2026 -- date discrepancy noted
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
Stories 1
SKTR J.L Van Der Merwe was saam met SKTR B.J. Du Toit, SKTR F.M. Griessel, SKTR J.H.Diedericks en SKTR P.Uzzel op daai nootlotige dag toe hulle die landmyn met hulle voertuig afgetrap het, hulle het al vyf omgekom en hulle is almal in die Helde Akker in Welkom in die Vrystaat te ruste gele.
Dedications 3
My broer,ek sit vandag toevallig en kyk of ek my weermag nommer kan opspoor en daar kom ek toe op die site af. Groot was die hartseer en verlange toe ek jou foto sien en daardie nootlottige dag weer voor my afspeel asof dit gister was. Ons laaste bier wat ons saam geniet het en hoe opgewonde jy was want dit was net n paar dae voordat jy sou klaar maak en kort voor die geboorte van jou eerste seun, min wetend dat ons jou nooit weer sou sien nie. ,want skaars n uur later is ek verwittig dat die buffel waarmee jul gery het n landmyn afgetrap het,en kort daarna moes ek aanskou hoe jul verkoolde liggame uit die tjopper gelaai word. Ek wil net se jy sal altyd in ons gedagtes wees en eendag sien ons mekaar dalk weer Anton van der Merwe
Ai my boet dit nou al 30jaar jy nie meer by ons is nie maar jy altyd in ons harte sal jou nooit vergeet ni mis al di visvang en hasejag trips jy was di band wat ons familie vasgehou het tot ons jou weer sien jou sus ma boeties pa en kinders jy is al oupa van 4 charmaine
the men of 102 Bn SWATF , do not forget , any men killed in our area , When we read our roll of honor , you to will be rememberd and when we have our beer for our units dead , you to are rememberd., and the price you paid salut from the men of 102BN