Stories

Dr. Louis Bothma, skrywer wat as lid van 32 Bataljon aan die Grensoorlog deelgeneem het, beskryf hoe die geskiedkundige herontmoeting tussen sappeur Johan van der Mescht en sy Swapo-ontvoerders by die watergat by Elundu…

Bosse 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…

An ex-colleague of mine told me a few years ago that he was on that train. I called him earlier today and without referring to the accident, asked him where he was on 25 March 1977. Het asked me "what time" and I said "…

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…

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…

I was both shock and saddened to come across this story of Andrew Byrd: "He was based at the Mpacha Sickbay, Sector 70, and the circumstances around his death, was covered up somewhat, he had been trained as a normal wa…

On 11 February 1985, a patrol from 32 Battalion's Charlie Company were in the vicinity of the Bale River, when their over-eager company commander took a short cut, against earlier advice from headquarters, and blundered…

Light (killed instantly by a bullet that struck him below his left eye). Rifleman P. <a title="Rifleman P. Kahete" href="main.php?page=

Kahete (severe schrapnel wounds) Rifleman A. <a title="Rifleman A. de Almeida" href="main.php?page=

de Almeida (a gunshot that penetrated both lungs) Rifleman P. Jose (multiple schrapnel wounds) Rifleman K. <a title="Rifleman K. Kalonga" href="main.php?page=

Kalonga (multiple schrapnel wounds to head and torso) Rifleman J.C. <a title="Rifleman J.C. Chihamba" href="main.php?page=

Chihamba (multiple schrapnel wounds to head and torso) Lance Corporal J.A. <a title="L/Cpl J.A. Sachilombo" href="main.php?page=

Sachilombo (multiple schrapnel wounds, including to abdomen) After dark, while the casualties were being moved to a temporary emergency base, another three wounded men, all suffering from massive chest wounds, died. The…

Fernando , M. <a title="Rifleman M. Joaquim" href="main.php?page=

Joaquim and M. <a title="Rifleman M. Chipoya" href="main.php?page=

Chipoya . During the night another badly wounded Rifleman, M.A. <a title="Rifleman M.A. Kinguelke" href="main.php?page=

Kinguelke , also died. The final death was that of Rifleman M. <a title="Rifleman M. Muema" href="main.php?page=

On 11 February 1985, a patrol from 32 Battalion's Charlie Company were in the vicinity of the Bale River, when their over-eager company commander took a short cut, against earlier advice from headquarters, and blundered…

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…

13 Sep 1970: Six members from 5 SAI and one member from 3 SAI were killed while being transported in a Gladiator Troop Carrier back to Ladysmith Army Camp. Their vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a Newspa…

66458696N Rifleman Hilton Dudley Coker (3 SAI). He was 19.

65395287N Rifleman John Grinyer (5 SAI). He was 20.

6732700N Rifleman Peter Alfons Ernst Leonhardt (5 SAI). He was 19.

68238567N Rifleman Kevin Eric Mack (5 SAI). He was 18.

68444918N Rifleman Richard Neville Marriott (5 SAI). He was 17.

68222322N Rifleman Gregory George Olyott (5 SAI). He was 18.

Corporal Tim Conway served in Ovamboland during 1976. It was here one evening, that his unit came under sustained mortar and machine gun fire by insurgents. Corporal Conway was fatally wounded by shrapnel during the ope…

Glen was a good friend...I knew him well. He got the nickname "Chapstick" as he was a medic who handed out chapsticks for sore lips. I knew him from spending a lot of time on patrol with him and he was a sweet and gentl…

I remember the day is if it was yesterday ... not the date ... just the day ... We were doing a stint at Oshigambo ( Google earth ). Craemer was in our platoon, and yes, as the previous writer witnessed, just made L/CPL…

On 11 February 1985, a patrol from 32 Battalion's Charlie Company were in the vicinity of the Bale River, when their over-eager company commander took a short cut, against earlier advice from headquarters, and blundered…

We went through basics at 2 special services,shared a tent with Frikki ,endured 2 weeks of rain and mud at rooisloot spanbevs course and we attended a radio comms exercise at zeerust partook in bondel sport at 2ssb and…

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…

Rifleman J.H. Diedericks was a member Goudveld Commando. On 6 January 1983 he and a number of others from this unit were on patrol when their vehicle tripped a landmine, killing five of them and injuring the rest. Two o…

Lt Diggle died in an aircraft accident after a partial engine failure. He was acting as co-pilot for

Pierre was killed in action in SWA , on 12 August 1978, whilst in hot pursuit of a terrorist group of about 45 men strong. He died together with two other paratroopers,

Sktr du Toit was lid van die Goudveld Kommando. Op 6 Januarie 1983 is hy en ses ander lede van die Goudveld Kommando op n roetiene patrollie toe hul voertuig n landmyn in die Kaokoveld, in die Noord-Westelike operasione…

Rfn E.P. du Toit was killed in an explosives accident with Rfn

I was in the same platoon with Evert du Toit and

Rfn R.G. Dunn (4 SAI) was killed in an explosives accident with Rfn