Identity
Person No.
930
Service No.
C/300739
Last Name
First Name
John Steven
Initials
J S
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
46
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
Unknown
Cause of Death
Died of cerebral hemorrhage, collapsed while playing cricket and was taken to Voortrekkerhoogte Military Hospital where he died. The doctor diagnosed that he had suffered the hemorrhage as a result of high blood pressure and estimated his age as over 60. This was confirmed by a friend of his in a statement that put his age at 69, and not 45 as stated on his attestation form
Military Service
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Unit History
Notes
Father of Miss. E. Baird, of Worcester, Cape Province. Step-brother of Mr. H. Wilson, of Lady Selbourne, Pretoria.
Research notes
4 Sep 2026: reverted Corps->Regiment for Cape Corps. John, citing SA History Online (sahistory.org.za/article/cape-coloured-corps-and-first-world-war), identified Cape Corps as a combat/recruiting identity with numbered battalions beneath it (like King's Royal Rifle Corps or the Machine Gun Corps), not an administrative branch grouping multiple distinct regiments -- unlike e.g. South African Infantry Corps, which genuinely groups different named regiments (Transvaal Scottish, Durban Light Infantry, etc).
Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 1
This was told to me by the ops medic who was with them. On the morning of 4 February 1988 Lt Mc Cann and his team were waiting at the edge of a shona somewhere in the vicinity of Eenhana. He no sooner stood up in the Casspir to inspect the other side of the shona where they were supposed to go, when he got a direct hit to the face with a "Crossbow" anti tank grenade, a newly employed weapon at that stage. He was killed instantly. He was remembered by this medic as a kind, responsible and loving young man and a good leader. As I was the hospital chaplain at the field hospital at Ondangwa AFB during that period, it was my duty to take care of all the valuables of the dead. In his pocket Lt Mc Cann left a note with a message that will forever remain in my mind. To his girlfriend/fiance he wrote that he did not want to be part of the war and the senseless killing anymore, but that the country needed him to be there. He spoke of his love for her and could not wait to be reunited with her. He also scribbled a note dated on the day of his passing in which he said that he had a bad feeling about the day and that he wished that this was his last border service. (I hope that these notes reached his loved ones at the time) I found this note in a "Dankie Tannnie" bible. Although I saw many dead and wounded people in my life, his death made a lasting impression on me. Through all my years as a "Dominee" his name remained in my mind. I told many youth groups of the bravery of this man and his team. I so wish that someone will post a photo of him so that he might be better remembered! Lt Mc Cann, I honour your sacrifice for the country!
Dedications 1
I was stationed at Ondangwa MASH at the time of Lt Mc Cann's death. I never knew him but had the duty of dealing with his valuables post mortem. His death gave me new direction and made me realise that we must interact with our loved ones as if we are with them for the very last time. A lovenote that he wrote to his girlfriend minutes before he died, made me kiss my wife each day as though she will never come back from work again. On sunday 3 June 2012 I will conduct a Sermon of Rememberance for him, as well as the others that paid the highest at Cuito Cuanavale.