Roll of Honour

Never Forgotten

No matter the skill of those involved, the fury of combat will always claim its casualties.

These are the men of Battle Group Juliet and 61 Mech who fell during combat in the service of their country, they will not be forgotten.

Name Date Operation
Corporal HC Truebody 04 May, 1978 Op Reindeer
Corporal TM Bridgman 04 May, 1978 Op Reindeer
Rifleman SM Cronjé 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman RN de Vito 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Lieutenant JJ du Toit 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman JH Fourie 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman PJ Joubert 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Corporal P Kruger 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman GJ Kemp 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman FJ Lello 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman FJ Loubser 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman MC Luyt 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman AJ Madden 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman GJ Venter 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Rifleman PW Warrener 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Corporal JL Potgieter 04 Nov, 1981 Op Daisy
Lieutenant G van Zyl 04 Nov, 1981 Op Daisy
Candidate Officer SF Coetzee 05 Nov, 1981 Op Daisy
Lance Corporal OP Kruger 20 Jan, 1982 -
Lance Corporal P Kruger 20 Jan, 1982 -
Rifleman BJ Wolfaardt 15 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Rifleman M Peterson 15 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Rifleman JH Potgieter 15 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Rifleman LP Hough 15 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Second Lieutenant DR van der Westhuizen 15 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Corporal MJ van Jaarsveld 15 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Lance Corporal JJ van den Berg 15 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Rifleman JDG du Toit 16 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Rifleman GPC Hattingh 20 Apr, 1982 Op Yahoo
Rifleman DP Croeser 30 Jul, 1982 Op Meebos
Gunner CF Bezuidenhout 06 Mar, 1983 Op Phoenix
Gunner J Bosse 06 Mar, 1983 Op Phoenix
Gunner LJ Engelbrecht 02 Apr, 1983 Op Phoenix
Trooper NW Niemand 28 Dec, 1983 Op Askari
Rifleman S Pretorius 27 Dec, 1983 Op Askari
Rifleman GP Le Roux 31 Dec, 1983 Op Askari
Rifleman DJ Schrönen 31 Dec, 1983 Op Askari
Rifleman MC Smit 31 Dec, 1983 Op Askari
Rifleman B Geen 04 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Rifleman HA Heyns 04 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Rifleman GA Lennox 04 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Rifleman DA Louw 04 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Rifleman LF Pearson 04 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Rifleman PD Pretorius 04 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Lance Corporal WT Steenkamp 04 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Rifleman JL Pretorius 04 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Corporal JH Roets 23 Jan, 1984 Op Askari
Rifleman PA Visagie 16 Sep, 1987 Op Modular
Gunner WG Beukman 20 Sep, 1987 Op Modular
Second Lieutenant AH Hind 03 Oct, 1987 Op Modular
Gunner AW De Villiers 08 Oct, 1987 Op Modular
Trooper F De Jager 08 Oct, 1987 Op Modular
Rifleman PM Schutte 11 Nov, 1987 Op Modular
Lance Corporal MJ Lecuona 03 Feb, 1988 Op Hooper
Corporal JH Kleynhans 14 Feb, 1988 Op Hooper
Rifleman VV Nieuwenhuizen 14 Feb, 1988 Op Hooper
Rifleman AS Groenewald 14 Feb, 1988 Op Hooper
Rifleman PH Groenewald 14 Feb, 1988 Op Hooper
Lance Corporal WAF Price 17 Feb, 1988 Op Hooper
Bombardier C Hendricks 25 Feb, 1988 Op Hooper
Second Lieutenant M Meiring 27 Jun, 1988 Op Excite
Lance Corporal RV Jagga 13 Aug, 1988 -
Lieutenant CP Els 03 Apr, 1989 -
Lance Corporal WL Matwa 17 Apr, 1994 Op Jumbo
Lieutenant J du Toit 10 Apr, 1995 Op Intexo
Rifleman J Mokgatle 21 Jan, 1996 Op Jumbo III
Rifleman NJ Claasen 21 Jan, 1996 Op Jumbo III
Rifleman A Sandi 05 Feb, 1996 Op Jumbo III

The following men lost their lives while serving with 61 Mech.

Name Date
Lance Corporal HL Swart 06 Jun, 1979
Rifleman DG van Brakel 30 Jun, 1979
Rifleman CJ Kotze 11 Aug, 1979
Rifleman BG Bester 22 Aug, 1979
Lance Corporal DJ Evans 11 Jan, 1980
Rifleman CJ Nortje 12 May, 1980
Rifleman PJ Bonnet 01 Jun, 1980
Rifleman JJ Joubert 06 Jul, 1980
Private G Lang 12 Dec, 1980
Rifleman P Hall 01 Mar, 1981
Private JJ Kotze 09 Apr, 1981
Rifleman L van Rooyen 10 Jul, 1981
Private JF De Beer 22 Jan, 1982
Rifleman D De Klerk 25 May, 1982
Rifleman JL van der Merwe 01 Jan, 1983
Lance Corporal CW Kindness 19 May, 1983
Gunner JJ Badenhorst 20 Mar, 1984
Gunner RJ Rautenbach 05 Aug, 1985
Rifleman WR Luiters 09 Aug, 1985
Trooper J Labuschagne 07 Feb, 1987
Lance Corporal G Lamb 27 Aug, 1988
Gunner SC Ellis 16 Sep, 1988
Second Lieutenant PGL Koen 18 Sep, 1988
Rifleman RA Gache 18 Nov, 1989
Lance Corporal SL Mhlongo 14 Dec, 1997
Lieutenant SP Losper 07 Jul, 1999

Medal Roll

The Honoris Crux decoration was initially awarded for bravery in dangerous circumstances, but the rules were later amended to restrict the awarding of this medal for bravery in combat action while in danger of life.

The Honoris Crux was discontinued and replaced by the Nkwe ya Gauta on 27 April 2003.

The following soldiers were awarded the Honoris Crux decoration while serving with 61 Mech:

Name Date Operation
Lieutenant JJ du Toit 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Lance Corporal GT Rutherford 10 Jun, 1980 Op Sceptic
Second Lieutenant DR van der Westhuizen 14 Apr, 1981 Op Carrot
Major LA Anderson 05 Nov, 1981 Op Daisy
Second Lieutenant SS Steyn 30 Jul, 1982 Op Meebos
Second Lieutenant HC le Roux 22 Mar, 1983 Op Phoenix
Second Lieutenant A Macaskill 04 Apr, 1984 Op Askari
Second Lieutenant J Kooij 13 Sep, 1987 Op Modular
Second Lieutenant HM Bremer 16 Sep, 1987 Op Modular
Rifleman GW Green 03 Oct, 1987 Op Modular

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