Stories

On the 5th of February 1970, Capt. JJ Lomabard was shot in the back by one of his own soldiers. Sometime during the day Capt Lombard was inspecting the guard posts around camp Katima Mulilo. At one of the posts, Lombard…

Die voorval wat gebeur het sal my die res van my lewe by bly, ek was maar 19 en nog n kind, alhoewel ons goeie opleiding gekry gedurnde ons "training" maak dit jou nie reg vir lewens veliese nie. Ek was n Ops Medic in B…

Read more about his actions during Operation Kropduif at http://www.warinangola.com/default.aspx?&view=topic&tabid=1274&forumid=1182&postid=16341 [Photo from Leon Bezuidenhout]

Rfn. Mostert was killed near Alpha tower. He did his training at 11 Commando Kimberley. He was a mortar. The incident took place December 1979. We were on patrol near Alpha tower and one section was on guard on the towe…

If I recall correctly the accident in which Lawrence was injured occurred in October 77. As reported above the accident happened as the vehicle was returning to our base in Oshakati. We were part of B Company, 11 Comman…

The detail as recorded is as best as I can recall. The L of the LD was for Lawrence. He as for myself, was in B Company of 11 Commando Unit. B company was stationed in Oshakati between Sept 77 and Jan/Feb 78. Lawrence e…

We were flying together when that acsiden hapend15.2.1990 I was working in UNTAG forces in Namibia.I was visiting 17sq. I am Lt.Timo Heikkinen Finland

The following story about Trooper Cronje was researched and written by myself and published in the book “Kraaifontein Stories Boek 1” by Karen Cronjé Carstens in 2015. The copyright belongs to the latter and is publishe…

Olaf Nicolay Bölling Hillestad died at the young age of 21 years and 9 months after contracting serious bladder trouble from drinking water from the wells which had been poisoned by the Germans, when he served with the…

Posted by ‎Gert Minnaar‎ to the FB Group: South African Military Veterans, Statutory Forces 1912-Now Bringing Skillie Home. All SA Paratroopers know the tragic story of Andries (Skillie) Human (photos below) who in May…

I was part of 10 armour sqn that horrible Sunday night. from a distance we could observe the 23mm gun fire and as they came for the attacks. We saw the explosions. Now after 30 years a group is going back to Cuvelai to…

According to the book Battle on the Lomba. Chapter 6 He was killed by an LMG during a training exercise. He was with charlie squadron of 61 mech. RIP

Walter Conolly, born 1914, died 1942 in El Alamein, Egypt.

Jacques Joubert A further report back on the Bring Skillie Home project. The PVO has continued collecting money for the Bring Skillie Home Fund which is an audited account lodged with the Parabat Veteran Organisation's…

Lt Bertus (Brut) Roos was my brother. They were shot down and killed on 25 August 1981. It was a great shock and we still miss him and think about him often. He was a kind and gentle person who lived and enjoyed his pas…

Born 29 January 1957. Grave west park cemetery. Talk of him every day 31 years. His heartbroken mother. Died aboard troop train returning from dismantling badly damaged bridge. Died 10 December 1976.

I knew Don from basics.He was always going to be in the thick of the fighting. From the first 3 months in ETALI camp he proved this.His section was very dedicated to him and there was always an aura of comraderie within…

My father died on 14 September 1985 on my 8th birthday, they day he was suppose to return home from the border. I am turning 40 this year and always wonder what our lives would have been like if he survived. You left be…

Gentlemen, this is the offical position of the Gunners' Memorial Trust. South African Gunners’ Memorial Trust Death of Gunner W.G. Beukman – 20 September 1987 During March 2012 it was brought to my attention that the de…

From Carlo Gevers: I would like to set straight the records of the circumstances of our brother Udo Louis Gevers, who apparently died in an accident caused by a rolling Buffel troop carrier. I believe that this was not…

Lt Zeelie was killed on 23 June 1974 (not on the date listed in the post). I was a troopie passing through Bwabata Camp that week and recall the discussion about the first South African soldier being killed in action. W…

My Email to SA War Graves Project: Discussions on this incident are ongoing and some details have emerged which I though need to be brought to your attention as to the circumstanced around the death of Tpr Niemand on 28…

Andrew was based at Natal Command. They went for a run around Greyville Race Course and Andrew collapsed he was brought back to Natal Command by the Medics to the Doctors Rooms where he unfortunately passed away. I was…

Edouard Jacot passed the matriculation examination of the University of the Cape of Good Hope in 1905. Continuing his studies at the South African College, Cape Town, he was awarded the degree Bachelor of Arts (BA) with…

Email received from Matthew Fisher: Hi, I am a non-Facebook using military veteran now living in Australia getting in touch with my time served in the SADF during operation Askari. The internet makes it so easy these da…

89280580BG Lance Corporal Adrian Marcel Juskiewicz was my brother. The news of his death was devastating for our family... but the funeral was there saddest of all. Watching his fellow soldiers deal with the pain of say…

Wel laat ek die Storie begin: My Para Sappers en ek was afgedeel na 25 Veld Eskadron vir die3 mde ontplooiing vanaf 1 Valsk Bn. Mynjag Operasies was toe deel van my en my Manne se take. Ek was toe n Kapt gewees. Kmdt Br…

I have translated the post from Gus Maartens into English: My Para Sappers and I was attached to 25 Field Squadron for a 3-month deployment from 1 Parachute Battalion. Mine-detection operations was one of our tasks. I w…

Do we finally have closure after 40 years? By Leon Bezuidenhout (February 2020) 40 Years later we honor a man that deserve it No mean soldier Solving the mystery of a South African Special Forces soldier MIA< Staff Serg…

Vryheid’s parabat leaped into conflict Etienne Louis Bell was born on July 1, 1958 in Vryheid. He was the son of Louis Botha Bell – a qualified pharmacist who practiced his trade at the Melman’s Pharmacy on Church Stree…

Ops Medic L/Cpl Viljoen du Toit, KIA 18 April 1988 PGV Viljoen Du Toit and I reported for duty at SAMS Training Centre, Klipdrift in February 1987 for National Service. We progressed on to SAMS College and successfully…

From Chris (czehnder0@gmail.com): Hi Cpl Yeo, that died in 1988 was with the SA army. He was in 25 Field Sqdn, and SWA forces was laying an ambush and needed a sapper for 3 nights. So, they asked us if they could lend s…

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 19…

Operasie Kropduif (die aanval op Eheke) op 28 Oktober 1977, sou die donkerste dag in die geskiedenis van die Suid Afrikaanse Spesiale Magte se bestaan wees. Nadat die Suid Afrikaners aan Angola onttrek het in 1976, sou…

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In the early hours of Thursday 18 February 1982, SAS President Kruger , oldest of the three Type 12 Frigates of the South African Navy, collided with the replenishment vessel, SAS Tafelberg . Both ships were severely da…

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C J Wium died in the collision and their bodies went down with the ship. A further two men, Chief Petty Officer

Bezuidenhout lost his life while on guard duty with

In the early hours of Thursday 18 February 1982, SAS President Kruger , oldest of the three Type 12 Frigates of the South African Navy, collided with the replenishment vessel, SAS Tafelberg . Both ships were severely da…