On Saturday 31 October 1987 a 101 Battalion Battle Group supported by members of 5 Reconnaissance Regiment together with D Company, 1 Parachute Battalion, attached to 5 RR attacked SWAPO positions at Nindango in Southern Angola. The Operation was known as Ops Firewood and it became clear from the start that SWAPO had been expecting such an attack as they were in well prepared positions and supported by a Cuban Tank and Artillery element together with an Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Motorised Infantry Unit. In the extremely heavy fighting that followed throughout the day that included a 101 Battalion Casspir being knocked out by a PG-7 anti-tank rocket, the Battle Group suffered the 15 casualties with approximately 67 wounded before breaking contact at nightfall. The Battle Group casualties were: “D” COMPANY, 1 PARACHUTE BATTALION 82513110BG Rifleman Hughes Norbert De Rose. He was 21. 82437369BG Rifleman Wayne Valentine Ewels. He was 21. 81033292BG Lance Corporal Raymond Mark Light. He was 21. 83219139BG Corporal Nico Smith Olivier. He was 19. 83247502BG Rifleman Dirk Willem van Rooyen. He was 20. 83271031BG Rifleman Jean Marc Schuurman. Critically wounded and evacuated to the RSA, he died from his wounds on 1/11/87 while the aircraft was still flying over Botswana. He was 20. 5 RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT 83561928BG 2/Lieutenant Dylan Chevalier Cobbalt. He was 20. 101 BATTALION ROMEO MIKE 76330893PE Captain Andries Hercules Du Bruyn Rademeyer. He was 27. 83587345BG 2/Lieutenant Deon Botes. He was 20. 84533793BG Sapper Erasmus Albertus Steyn. He was 19. Rifleman W. Abraham Rifleman P. Epafu Rifleman V.Petrus Rifleman T. Sheepo Rifleman M. Uusshona
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 23:56:54 +0000
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