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Roberts , Roland Henry (R H)

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Identity
Person No.
40849
Service No.
78363462BG
Last Name
First Name
Roland Henry
Initials
R H
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Cause code
DROW 1,204
Drowned
Cause of Death
Drowned, in the Olifants Dam
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Trooper
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
"A" Coy.
Defence Force
SADF 3,839
South African Defence Force
Unit History
Role at time of death
Mechanised Infantry (combined-arms battalion group)
Status
Regular Force
Part of
Formed 1978 as Battle Group Juliet (SWAPO counter-insurgency, Ovamboland); formally named 61 Mechanised Battalion (Group) January 1979; disbanded 2005 at Lohatla. "Battalion Group" reflects its integral combined-arms structure: two Ratel-20-mounted infantry companies, an armoured car/tank squadron (Eland/Ratel-90, later Olifant), an integral G5 howitzer artillery battery, an 81mm mortar platoon, an anti-tank platoon, and an anti-aircraft troop -- not merely units attached for one operation. Fought at the Battle of the Lomba River, 1987. No evidence found that it was ever subordinated to or redesignated as a "61 Mechanised Brigade" -- see the note on that separate OrgEntity record.
Notes

Son of Mrs. Lily Esta Roberts, of Kruisfontein, Knysna

Research notes


Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 5 Sep 2026: confirmed; ServiceNo suffix BG added (was 78363462).

Citations

***Not yet accepted for War Grave Status by CWGC, need service file

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