Identity
Person No.
33837
Old ROH no.
1648
Service No.
80023898PP
Last Name
First Name
John Andrew
Initials
J A
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
24
Military Service
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Secondary Unit
Air Force
Defence Force
SADF 3,263
South African Defence Force
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,310
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, 40 miles inside Matabeleland during Operation Drama, a clandestine mission into Zimbabwe
Grave Reference
Location
Country
Locality
Notes
According to news reports at the time, the bodies "were disposed of" by the Zimbabwean Government as the relatives did not claim them.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project
Stories 2
Killed in Action 2001-05-30 13:37:59 <a href="main.php?page=
A number of ex-Rhodesian soldiers, now serving with the SADF since Zimbabwean independence, were located in camps in the northern Transvaal. The SADF recruited and trained these men, primarily for sabotage operations designed to destroy infrastructure, damage the economy and undermine the military capacity of Zimbabwe?s armed forces. This series of planned operations, called Operation Drama, had the objective of ensuring that the new Zimbabwe government did not provide concrete support to the ANC and PAC in their armed struggles. Sgt John Andrew Wessels was a member of a team of 18 SADF soldiers, sent into Zimbabwe on a clandestine mission. They were ambushed by the Zimbabwean army 40 miles inside Matabeleland, and three men, including Sgt Wessels, were killed in the
Dedications 2
Sgt Wessels & I served in 44 Para Pathfinder Company together. We went thru selection & served in the RLI. He was a great soldier and I was a funny guy sometimes. Always remember the fallen soldiers.
We will always remember you one of the elite .Gone but not forgotten a true freind .