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Van Der Westhuizen , Hans Jurgens (H J)

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No photograph available — remembrance poppy
Identity
Person No.
33489
Old ROH no.
1572
Service No.
80575046BT
Last Name
Van Der Westhuizen 55
First Name
Hans Jurgens
Initials
H J
Date of Birth
08 September 1955 100
Age at Death
32
Death Record
Date of Death
29 March 1988 124
Cause code
SHOT 546
Shot
Cause of Death
Died in Shooting Incident 289
Died in Shooting Incident, accidentally killed with his rifle while on a re-supply mission with a supply truck (SAMIL-100) in Angola during operations against the MPLA in Cuito Cuanavale. 40 km East of Luengue. While on the way to fetch water, he bent down and his webbing caught on the trigger of his R4, which fired 3 rounds automatic, killing him
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Regiment Potchefstroom University 2
Corps
South African Artillery 719
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,848
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
North West 534
Cemetery
STILFONTEIN CEMETERY 1
Grave Reference
I AB 80 1
Memorial
Memorial
Battle of Cuito Cuanavale Virtual Memorial
Location
Cuito Cuanavale, Cuando Cubango province, Angola
Coordinates
-15.163, 19.173 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
Packer
On the panel
Operation Packer
Operation
Operation
Packer
Dates
1988-03-01 to 1988-04-30
About
Continuation of Hooper: further SADF/UNITA attempts to dislodge FAPLA from its bridgehead on the eastern (Tumpo) side of the Cuito River at Cuito Cuanavale. The attacks made little further ground and casualties mounted on both sides; Packer is generally reckoned the last major SADF conventional offensive of the war, after which the fighting shifted toward the diplomatic track that produced Namibian independence.
Notes

Husband of Mrs. C. W. van der Westhuizen, of Welkom. Alternate name form in some sources: Hendrik Jacobus (same service no.). Duplicate ROH row PN 33490 (1988-07-31 / Gordons Bay / Hendrik Jacobus) removed 2026-08-05 per Mike Sandham.

Research notes


4 Sep 2026: Unit leftover "Regiment Potchefstroom University" (a named regiment, not a sub-unit) moved to Regiment. Corps unchanged. | Gunners Association RoH lists them (South African Border War 1988 Gunner H.J. Van der Westhuizen) - https://www.gunners.org.za/home-2/roll-of-honour/
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
Stories 3
on 30 May 2001 · via source
Gnr van der Westhuizen was killed in an accident with his rifle while on a re-supply mission with a supply truck (SAMIL-100) in Angola during operations against the MPLA in Cuito Cuanavale. He was a member of Regiment Potchefstroom University (the G5-battery). Left a wife and daughter of two.
on 03 February 2009 · via source
wessie en ek het die dag voor die ongeluk saam n bier gedrink toe migs ons suroprise ons is in sy buffie in waar hy my sy mes gewys het een vir elke kamp het hy gese in 1986 is ek wessie en sy vrou oos londen toe vir kattekwaad almal van2zero kom in kontak met my ons is die laastes wat daar was groete anton fouche anton fouche-
on 22 March 2011 · via source
wessie dis weer daai tyd van die jaar en kan en sal dit nooit vergeet ou maat sal verewig dink aan ons goeie dae saam rus in vrede anton fouche
Dedications 6
by Lt Johan Schoeman on 30 May 2001 · via source
We will remember you, Wessie!
on 25 March 2005 · via source
Wessie had a premonition aout his death. When reporting for the camp, he told me how he had narrowly escaped death twice just recently and knew that he wasn't coming back alive. We tried to talk him out of it. He was a great guy, a loyal comrade who loved his family. He is still missed. Richard Harris (Lt)
on 05 May 2008 · via source
Wessie is oorlede volgens my dagboek op 28/3/1988,Ons onthou jou vriendelike persoonlikheid baie goed.Jy is opgeoffer vir n verlore saak - jammer. PAF Muller(S/Sers)
by johansamin on 15 June 2015 · via War in Angola
Ons sal jou onthou, Gunner!
by etienned on 29 July 2015 · via War in Angola
Het vir Whitey of Wessie geken ja. Ons was besig op die G2 stelling die dag toe hulle ons kom se hy is oorlede. was a donker dag. Saluut ou maat.
by Hooper on 11 September 2018 · via War in Angola
Was his instructor in 1981 and served together in Ops Packer. He was always full of life and full of mischief, a man that enjoyed every day. RIP.

Source: https://rohsa.co.za/person.php?PersonNumber=33489&pdf=1

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South African Roll of Honour — Remembering those who served and fell. Lest We Forget.