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1 Parachute Battalion

Battalion
South African Army Formed: 1961-04-01 92 records in this database

1 Parachute Battalion (motto Ex alto vincimus — “We conquer from above”) is the only full-time paratroop unit of the South African Army, nicknamed the Parabats. It was raised at Tempe, Bloemfontein on 1 April 1961. In 1960 fifteen SADF volunteers were sent to England, to RAF Abingdon — a Royal Air Force station in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, not a South African Air Force base — mostly to train as parachute instructors and packers; one SAAF pilot trained there in dropping paratroopers. Together with 2 Mobile Watch they formed the nucleus of the battalion. Members were the first South African Army soldiers in action after the Second World War, with the South African Police against insurgents in South West Africa in 1966, and the battalion served throughout the Border War (1966–1989); its best-known action is the Battle of Cassinga in 1978. It was the first battalion of 44 Parachute Brigade from 1978 until the brigade was downsized to 44 Parachute Regiment in 1999. Garrison remains Tempe. Still active under the SANDF.

Wikipedia

Part of

Formation Type Relationship Dates
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — 44 Parachute Regiment — Regular Category organic
army-oob:infantry
44 Parachute Brigade Brigade organic 1978-01-01 – 1999-12-31
1/2/3/4 Parachute Battalion sat under 44 Parachute Brigade (formed 1978) until the brigade was redesignated 44 Parachute Regiment.
44 Parachute Regiment Regiment organic 2000-01-01
44 Parachute Brigade redesignated 44 Parachute Regiment; the numbered parachute battalions remained its battalions.

Eras

Dates Force Role Status
1961-04-01 – 1994-04-26 SADF Airborne light infantry (paratroops) Regular Force
Raised 1 April 1961 at Tempe. First battalion of 44 Parachute Brigade from 1978. Source
1994-04-27 SANDF Airborne light infantry (paratroops) Regular Force
Still the SANDF’s only full-time parachute battalion. 44 Parachute Brigade was downsized to 44 Parachute Regiment in 1999. Source

Personnel

92 on the roll across 5 Force tags — this organisation name is shared by more than one defence force / era.

All (92) South African Defence Force (47) South African National Defence Force (36) South African Police (6) Blank Force (2) Union Defence Force (1)
# Last Name First Name Initials Rank Force Regiment Corps Date of Death
32057 Mpotle Serabele Solomon S S Rifleman SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1995-11-02
32061 Msenga Khomotso Paul K P Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
32062 Msibi D M Corporal SANDF 1998-10-09
32069 Msuthwana Sipho Brian J M Rifleman SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1997-01-01
32070 Mtengwane Sambonga S Lance Corporal SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1998-09-22
32071 Mthembu H M Corporal SANDF South African Air Force 1998-12-27
32133 Mxhosana Jim Zamani J Z Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
32311 Nothnagel Johan J Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1980-12-01
32314 Nqaleka Vusumzi Joseph V J Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
32374 Olivier Nico Smith N S Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1987-10-31
37068 Oosthuizen Gerhardus Marthinus G M Detective Sergeant SAP 1974-09-26
37069 Oosthuizen Jacobus Christoffel J C Detective Constable SAP 1945-05-09
37070 Oosthuizen Joseph Theodorus J T Constable SAP 1936-07-10
37071 Oosthuizen Lourence C L C Constable SAP 1992-04-02
37072 Oosthuizen Paul Stephanus P S Constable SAP 1949-05-23
37073 Oosthuizen Paul Stephanus R A S Captain SAP 1999-12-07
32478 Pettit Eaun Andrew Chapman E A C Lance Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-04-02
32495 Phirimana Thabiso Anthon T A Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
32517 Pieterse Petrus Jacobus P J Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-03-28
48587 Schoeman Neville N Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-08-17
32853 Seakamela Mokgadi Darius M D Corporal SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
32856 Seekoei Matthew Damon M D Rifleman SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1997-01-01
32857 Seeman De Barcaye Elizabeth Hilda Muriel E H M Major SADF Women's Royal Army Corps 1958-02-20
33029 Smuts Nicolaas Willem N W Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1985-11-05
48783 Spangenberg W J J Rifleman SADF 44 Parachute Regiment 1989-10-27
33054 Spence Don Andries D A Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1982-09-24
33131 Storm Hans Jurie H J Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1982-05-01
33132 Storrier Richard Ronald R R SADF 1982-01-15
33207 Taljaard Pieter P Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1984-09-12
33215 Taylor Christoffel Petrus C P Second Lieutenant SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-06-02
33280 Thulo Maleisane Samuel M S Rifleman SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
33337 Tsheke Lucas Mohapi L M Lance Corporal SANDF Unit 44 2013-03-23
33338 Tshewu Phillip Tumisang P T Rifleman SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1998-09-22
48785 Uitenweerde M G Lance Corporal SADF 44 Parachute Regiment 1992-03-14
39007 Van Den Heever Robert John De Wet R J D Lance Corporal SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1977-08-21
33476 Van Der Nest Cornelis Frederik C F Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1978-08-12
33506 Van Dyk Pieter Leon H P L H Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1988-03-11
33579 Van Rooyen Dirk Willem D W Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1987-10-31
33679 Venter Daniel Stephanus D S Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1984-04-07
33811 Watts Steven Warwick S W Rifleman SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-08-17
33840 Wessels Louis Theodorus Hermanus L T H Sergeant SADF 1 Parachute Battalion South African Infantry Corps 1981-01-15
33953 Zumane Abram Welile A W Rifleman SANDF 44 Parachute Regiment 1997-01-01