61 Mech | 61 Mech

Inauguration of the Wall of Remembrance

The SADF Wall of Remembrance was inaugurated on 25 October 2005.

It has been erected with the consent of the Board of Directors of the Voortrekker Monument and Nature Reserve, a section 21 company incorporated not for gain.

The construction of this Wall of Remembrance was made possible through private donations and contributions in kind, and it was completed at a cost of around R650 000-00.No State funds were used in this endeavor.

The reason for the Wall of Remembrance

The Wall has been erected to pay tribute to the members of the SADF who lost their lives in the service of the Republic of South Africa, over the period 31 May 1961 to 27 April 1994 when the SADF was superseded by the SANDF.

The names of the members of the SADF who died in action are indicated on this wall with an asterisk, while the rest of the names refer to members who died under other circumstances.

Superhuman demands were placed on the SADF

During the period of 1961 to 1994 virtually superhuman demands were placed on the SADF.The sacrifice by the members of the SADF, especially those who are commemorated on the Wall of Remembrance, as well as the sacrifice of their relatives, helped to make the SADF one of the best fighting forces in Africa which allowed the politicians to buy time in pursuit of a proficient political solution to the complex situation of South Africa at the time.

Relatives of soldiers who payed the highest price for their country and former members of the SADF

Many people attended the inauguration of the Wall of Remembrance, some of them relatives of those soldiers who had payed the highest price for their country while others were former members of the SADF.

It was sad to see how painful the loss of their loved ones still was for the relatives who had attended the inauguration of the Wall of Remembrance, and all present shared in their grief as they took part in the wreath laying ceremony.The void left by a lost son or brother will never be filled for these relatives.

Many wreaths were laid, by former chiefs of the SADF, relatives of fallen soldiers, cultural organizations, political parties, private institutions and private individuals.

Lance corporals P and PO Kruger

On 20 January 1982 twin brothers, lance corporals P and PO Kruger, lost their lives in the same landmine incident while serving with 61 Mech Battalion Group.One can only try to imagine the shock to their parents when they received the news of this tragedy. Their elder brother, Mr Hennie Kruger, laid a wreath in memory of his twin brothers at the Wall of Remembrance.

61 Mech Veterans Association

General-major Johann Dippenaar, the first commander of 61 Mech Battalion Group, laid a wreath on behalf the 61 Mech Veterans Association at the Wall of Remembrance.

The 61 Mech Veterans Association also contributed to the costs to erect the Wall of Remembrance, and we want to encourage our members to contribute directly to this cause.

Visit the Wall of Remembrance to pay your respect

The Wall of Remembrance gives honour to the memory of all those soldiers who had paid the ultimate price for their country during the period from 31 May 1961 to 27 April 1994.

A visit to the Wall of Remembrance will not leave you untouched, and is an appropriate way to pay one’s respect for the fallen soldiers of the SADF.