Identity
Person No.
33795
Old ROH no.
1629
Service No.
67437996PE
Last Name
First Name
Frederick Gerhardus
Initials
F G
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
24
Military Service
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
DOW 2,685
Died of wounds
Cause of Death
Died of wounds, received during Operation Quipico, a forerunner to the battle at Bridge 14, he was part of a 10 man Recce team, landed by helicopter. They advanced in single file with Botes leading, Wannenberg second in the line, followed by Capt Venter. As they neared a road, Capt Venter moved forward and told Wannenberg to stop, who, in turn, told Botes. At that moment they were caught in heavy fire (ambush) and Wannenberg was hit several times and Capt Venter was wounded in the hand. They were unable to raise Cela by radio and so walked back to a river nearby. Only the following morning were they able to summon a chopper but Wannenberg had already died of his wounds
Grave Reference
Location
Notes
Son of Mr. F. G. Wannenburg
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project
Stories 1
Cuban and Fapla reinforcements had arrived in the first week of December near Bridge 14, which was located on the Nhia river, on the route from Cela to Quibala. Here they set up an HQ and ammunition dump just north of the river. A patrol from "1 Recce Commando" tried to reach the site on foot, but was unable to cross the river, now swollen by heavy rain. Two nights later, on 7 December, they were landed on the north side by helicopter, but soon after passing a cattle kraal they were spotted by the enemy and fired on with machine-guns. Sergeant Frederick Wannenburg, their leader, was unable to return fire from his position, so moved from cover to cover, firing continuously. Caught eventually in a cross-fire he was wounded in the stomach and several other places. Sgt. Major Johannes Conradie then took over command, regrouped the men and sent out a flanking party which closed with the enemy and, although under heavy fire at close range, forced them to retreat. By the time a helicopter could be called in to evacuate the patrol Wannenburg had died. Both he and Conradie were awarded the Honoris Crux.
Dedications
No dedications have been added yet.