Identity
Person No.
49580
Service No.
76478957BG
Last Name
First Name
Anthony Thomas
Initials
A T
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
19
Military Service
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
MVA 2,588
Motor vehicle accident
Cause of Death
Died in a private vehicle accident, head-on collision about 30 km from Bloemfontein on the Bloemfontein–Colesberg road while returning from Cape Town on a weekend pass after two years with 1 SAI (including Operation Sceptic / Smokeshell with 61 Mechanised Battalion Group). He would have klaared out three days later.
Location
Unit History
Notes
Known as Tony. Lived in Cape Town. Platoon orderly, Platoon 1, Ratel Callsign One-one, A Company 61 Mech during Operation Sceptic (Combat Team Alpha, Maj Paul Fouché). Milan missile course, Oudtshoorn. Comrade of Andrew Whitaker (bungalow 176, 1 SAI, from 9 Jan 1979).
Research notes
War in Angola Member Dedications forum (Excel export supplied by Johan Schoeman, www.warinangola.com, posts 54910–54911, 5–6 May 2026): 76478957BG Rifleman Anthony Thomas Uytenbogaard (forum spelling; Graham/WIA roll uses Uytenbogaardt) from 1 SAI, died 15 Dec 1980 in a head-on private vehicle accident ~30 km from Bloemfontein returning from Cape Town on a weekend pass. Comrade Andrew Whitaker and Brig Gen A. Savides SM (retd), OC 1 SAI 1980–81, record that he had served A Coy 61 Mech (Platoon 1, Ratel 11) through Operation Sceptic/Smokeshell and was klaaring out; 61 Mech and the 1 SAI wall declined to list him because he was no longer on strength. Savides states he is omitted from the SADF Wall of Remembrance. Age 19 (AlternatePerson / Graham-style WIA roll). Not overwritten from any SAWGP record — none found. New ROH record.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
The War in Angola
War in Angola Member Dedications forum (www.warinangola.com), Excel export supplied by Johan Schoeman, 1 Sep 2026. Forum post(s): 54910, 54911.
Stories 1
Sent in by Andreew Whitaker and posted on behalf of Brig Gen A. Savides, SM (retd):
IN MEMORIAM
76478957 BG RIFLEMAN ANTHONY THOMAS UYTENBOGAARD
I was officer commanding 1 South African Infantry Battalion in 1980 and 1981.
On 10 June 1980 two companies of 1 SAI attached to 61 Mech Bn Gp were part of the forces of Operation Sceptic with the specific objective codenamed Smokeshell. During the battle that ensued, thirteen members of 61 Mech/1 SAI in Combat Team Bravo were killed in action. Despite this loss, the objective was secured and Operation Sceptic was a resounding success. The loss of 13 of their comrades had a profound and lasting effect on the entire 1 SAI contingent, yet they shouldered on through the rest of the year.
Rfn Anthony Uytenbogaard was a member of A Company 61 Mech, the mechanised infantry component of Combat Team Alpha, under Maj Paul Fouché for the duration of Operation Sceptic. Uytenbogaard (“tony” to his friends and family) was the platoon orderly of Platoon No 1 in Ratel Callsign One-one. Both combat teams saw extensive action on that day and survived other serious enemy action.
After the triumph and tragedy at Smokeshell, the 1 SAI component returned to the unit and, after a short spell of leave, later returned to 61 Mech at Omuthiya. They finally returned to Bloemfontein and 1 SAI around 10 December 1980 to be discharged at the end of their two-year service. As these men had seen major action and were part of the elements that suffered what was then the greatest one-day loss of SADF personnel in action, there was no point in keeping them confined to the base for a week or more while merely awaiting their discharge.
I applied to Army HQ for permission to discharge this group early, but this request was turned down. I then allowed the whole group a long weekend pass from around 12 to 16 December. Rfn Uytenbogaard, who lived in Cape Town hitched a lift home and borrowed his father’s car to return to the unit on 15 December. About 30 km before Bloemfontein the vehicle was involved in a collision during which Uytenbogaard and the driver of the other vehicle were both killed.
This death, coming as it did after surviving Smokeshell and a second stint at 61 Mech, came as a huge shock to everyone at the unit, and especially to his comrades who had lived with him through the proverbial thick and thin for two years.
I leaned recently with some dismay that Uytenbogaard’s name has, for some reason, been omitted from the SADF Wall of Remembrance and I would earnestly recommend to the powers that be that this oversight be rectified as soon as is expedient.
Rfn Anthony Thomas Uytenbogaard and his family deserve this recognition and honour!
With respect and compliments,
Tony Savides
Brig Gen A. Savides, SM (retd)
IN MEMORIAM
76478957 BG RIFLEMAN ANTHONY THOMAS UYTENBOGAARD
I was officer commanding 1 South African Infantry Battalion in 1980 and 1981.
On 10 June 1980 two companies of 1 SAI attached to 61 Mech Bn Gp were part of the forces of Operation Sceptic with the specific objective codenamed Smokeshell. During the battle that ensued, thirteen members of 61 Mech/1 SAI in Combat Team Bravo were killed in action. Despite this loss, the objective was secured and Operation Sceptic was a resounding success. The loss of 13 of their comrades had a profound and lasting effect on the entire 1 SAI contingent, yet they shouldered on through the rest of the year.
Rfn Anthony Uytenbogaard was a member of A Company 61 Mech, the mechanised infantry component of Combat Team Alpha, under Maj Paul Fouché for the duration of Operation Sceptic. Uytenbogaard (“tony” to his friends and family) was the platoon orderly of Platoon No 1 in Ratel Callsign One-one. Both combat teams saw extensive action on that day and survived other serious enemy action.
After the triumph and tragedy at Smokeshell, the 1 SAI component returned to the unit and, after a short spell of leave, later returned to 61 Mech at Omuthiya. They finally returned to Bloemfontein and 1 SAI around 10 December 1980 to be discharged at the end of their two-year service. As these men had seen major action and were part of the elements that suffered what was then the greatest one-day loss of SADF personnel in action, there was no point in keeping them confined to the base for a week or more while merely awaiting their discharge.
I applied to Army HQ for permission to discharge this group early, but this request was turned down. I then allowed the whole group a long weekend pass from around 12 to 16 December. Rfn Uytenbogaard, who lived in Cape Town hitched a lift home and borrowed his father’s car to return to the unit on 15 December. About 30 km before Bloemfontein the vehicle was involved in a collision during which Uytenbogaard and the driver of the other vehicle were both killed.
This death, coming as it did after surviving Smokeshell and a second stint at 61 Mech, came as a huge shock to everyone at the unit, and especially to his comrades who had lived with him through the proverbial thick and thin for two years.
I leaned recently with some dismay that Uytenbogaard’s name has, for some reason, been omitted from the SADF Wall of Remembrance and I would earnestly recommend to the powers that be that this oversight be rectified as soon as is expedient.
Rfn Anthony Thomas Uytenbogaard and his family deserve this recognition and honour!
With respect and compliments,
Tony Savides
Brig Gen A. Savides, SM (retd)
Dedications 1
We met 9/1/79 bungalow 176 at 1SAI and were together for virtually our full 2 years. He did a short course in Oudtshoorn on the Milan missile and on the border was A co, platoon 1. I did a short medic course and was A co, platoon 2.
We returned from the border on about 10 December 1980. Because of our being in Messina area when Mugabe came to power and Smokeshell we had only had 1 seven day pass and were told that instead of Klaaring out on 19/12/80 we would Klaar out on 12/12. On arriving back at 1 SAI we were told this was not going to happen and we were given a long weekend pass, to be back by the morning of the 15/12. We all hiked home and he returned from Cape Town in his dad's car as he would have been heading home in a few days. Sadly fell asleep behind the wheel 30km from Bloemfontein and was killed in a head on.
I've tried unsuccessfully to get 61 to recognise him, for many years. They refuse because he was no longer on 61 strength. He is not recognised on the wall at 1SAI, because we were not brought back onto their books and merely using the base as a transit camp while klaaring out.
I approached Tertius Zitzke about getting his name on the wall at VTM and after initially being rejected due to lack of proof, I made contact with Tony Savides who was 1SAI commanding officer in 1980. He gave a statement which proved sufficient. I'll look for his submission and send to you. Just not sure if I have on email or WhatsApp
We returned from the border on about 10 December 1980. Because of our being in Messina area when Mugabe came to power and Smokeshell we had only had 1 seven day pass and were told that instead of Klaaring out on 19/12/80 we would Klaar out on 12/12. On arriving back at 1 SAI we were told this was not going to happen and we were given a long weekend pass, to be back by the morning of the 15/12. We all hiked home and he returned from Cape Town in his dad's car as he would have been heading home in a few days. Sadly fell asleep behind the wheel 30km from Bloemfontein and was killed in a head on.
I've tried unsuccessfully to get 61 to recognise him, for many years. They refuse because he was no longer on 61 strength. He is not recognised on the wall at 1SAI, because we were not brought back onto their books and merely using the base as a transit camp while klaaring out.
I approached Tertius Zitzke about getting his name on the wall at VTM and after initially being rejected due to lack of proof, I made contact with Tony Savides who was 1SAI commanding officer in 1980. He gave a statement which proved sufficient. I'll look for his submission and send to you. Just not sure if I have on email or WhatsApp