Today, we remove headdress and stand to attention to remember 13 young men who were still in the prime of their youth when they were taken away quickly and violently in the heat of battle. These young men with the faces of boys, were tenacious in carrying out their duties to the end in the face of deadly heavy calibre enemy anti-aircraft gunfire. We can take heart in knowing that they were not alone when they died, they were among friends. We hope and pray that their families and friends are kept strong by the thought that all these men are now in the hands of the Lord and that they are still remembered by many and continue remain in our thoughts and prayers. We can also take strength in the words of the Lord when he said “Fear thee not for their righteousness has not been forgotten and their glory shall not be blotted out”. I am sure that for whatever reason the Lord took these young men away from their families and friends, he must have had much greater plans for all of them. Their names and supreme sacrifice have not been forgotten and continue to be remembered by those of us who remain behind. FOR THEM THE LAST POST HAS SOUNDED An exceptionally sad day for the SADF today Brothers and Sisters. When the Roll was called this morning on 10 June 2014, the following young men from our Generation stepped forward and answered when their names were called. During the course of the day, please pause for a minute to remember all these young men who are no longer here to share this day with us. 10 Jun 1975: 70476437N Corporal Timothy Chadwick from 6 SAI was accidentally killed while busy building a bunker at Bagani. While in the process of felling a tree with a chain saw to make space for the bunker, the tree fell on him and severed his arm. Despite immediate medical attention, the medical personnel were unable to stem the bleeding and he bled to death. He was 20. 10 Jun 1979: 73442816BT Rifleman Johannes Wilhelmus Landerd Jans from the Johannesburg Regiment was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 22. 10 Jun 1980: 76901859SP Rifleman Jose Miguel from 32 Battalion was Killed in a landmine explosion in Southern Angola during operations against enemy forces. He was 29 10 Jun 1980: A very sad day for 61 Mechanised Battalion when thirteen members of their members were Killed in Action or Died of Wounds during the attack on the SWAPO Smokeshell Base complex during Ops Sceptic in Southern Angola after their Ratel vehicles were engaged and knocked out by one Soviet 23mm ZU-23-2 deployed together with three 14,5mm ZPU-1 Anti-Aircraft Guns. The casualties were: 74391806PE Lieutenant Johannes Jacobus Du Toit (HC). His Ratel 20mm cannon jammed during the attack and his vehicle was in turn attacked by about 50 enemy troops. He continued to engage the enemy with the Browning anti-aircraft machine gun until he was mortally wounded by small arms fire. He was 22. Platoon Headquarters Ratel: Callsign 21 Ratel 21 was engaged by a 14,5mm Soviet ZPU-1 anti-aircraft gun and the Armour-Piercing Incendiary projectiles penetrated the left door and rear of the vehicle. A hand grenade that was hanging inside the door rack exploded causing the vehicle to immediately catch fire and start burning. The personnel immediately evacuated the Ratel to find cover from where they could return fire. The casualties in this Ratel were: 76338946BG Rifleman Francois Johan Loubser. He was seated at the left door where the 14,5mm rounds penetrated and he was killed instantly when the hand grenade exploded. His body remained in the vehicle and was completely charred as the Ratel burnt out. He was 19. 77217907BG Rifleman Petrus Johannes Joubert. He successfully exited the vehicle and took cover in an abandoned enemy position. After a short while, he decided to break cover and run towards another Ratel to draw their attention but as soon as he stood up, he was hit in the chest by enemy rifle fire and fell back into the position. He died before any help could arrive. He was 19. 70518303BG Rifleman Gert Johannes Venter. He was the anti-aircraft gunner on the Ratel and he tried to disembark from the vehicle through the anti-aircraft gunners hatch. He was hit in the stomach by a 14,5mm round and fell dead next to the vehicle. His body was completely charred as the Ratel burnt out. He was 25. Section Number One Ratel: Callsign 21A Ratel 21A was engaged from the front at virtually point-blank range by a 23mm ZU-23-2 Anti-Aircraft gun. The casualties in this Ratel were: 7646809BG Rifleman Gerhardus Johannes Kemp. He was the driver of the Ratel when the 23mm High explosive rounds penetrated the windshield and peppered his chest and face with lethal shrapnel and pieces of windshield glass. He lost consciousness and died a short while later while still seated in his driver position. He was 19. 76389238BG Rifleman Jacobus Hendrik Fourie. He was standing up in one of the right hand side fighting compartment hatches throwing hand grenades into enemy positions when he was hit in the midsection by a 23mm bullet that killed him instantly. His body was pulled back into the vehicle by his comrades. He was 20. Section Number Three Ratel: Callsign 21C Ratel 21C drew concentrated fire from a 23mm ZU-23-2 Anti-Aircraft Gun that was deployed with three other 14,5mm ZPU-1 Anti-Aircraft guns and was hit several times. The Ratel was seen to turn immediately and head towards the enemy gun position before coming to a halt. The casualties in this vehicle were: 75222965BG Corporal Paul Kruger. He was the Ratel Commander and was killed instantly in the turret after being struck numerous times by 23mm cannon shells in the upper torso. He was 20. 77210839BG Rifleman Stephen Maritz Cronje. He crawled out from the driver’s position to the left rear door where he was struck in the back by a 14,5mm round that killed him instantly. He was 19. 77412153BG Rifleman Peter William Warrener. He tried to jump out of the vehicle via the gunners hatch but his right leg was blown off above the knee by a 23mm High Explosive Cannon Shell. Despite expert medical treatment being administered in the field, he died from his wounds approximately three and a half hours later while being evacuated. He was 19. 7395813BG Rifleman Roberto Nicola de Vito. He was standing up in the left side hatch throwing hand grenades into enemy positions when he was struck by a burst of 14,5mm Anti-Aircraft cannon fire that severed him in two, killing him instantly. Unfortunately, a M26 hand grenade he was about to throw, fell through the hatch and exploded inside the Ratel. He was 19. 77471423BG Rifleman Michael Clarence Luyt. He was seated in the left section of the Ratel when the hand grenade that de Vito had dropped, virtually landed in his lap where it exploded, killing him instantly. He was 19. 77260578BG Rifleman Francis John Lello. He was killed instantly after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds to the face and chest when the hand grenade exploded just as he was jumping out of the vehicle. He was 19. 76325646BG Rifleman Andrew John Madden. He was critically wounded in the neck and back by shrapnel from the exploding grenade. He received expert medical attention in the field and was evacuated from the area but succumbed to his wounds at 20h00 that evening, approximately 5 hours after being wounded. He was 19. 10 Jun 1981: Rifleman A. Johannes from 101 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 24 10 Jun 1982: Rifleman K Comoxoxo from 31 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 25. Their Names and sacrifice have not been forgotten. Thx Graham UnlikeUnlike ·
Posted on: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 08:29:27 +0000
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