In Memory Of

GROENEWALD, ANDRE SCHALK

Service Details
Age:
18
Date of Birth:
1969-02-25
Service No:
85263262BG
Rank:
Rifleman
Unit:
1 South African Infantry Battalion
Unit 2:
"B" Coy.
Regiment:
South African Infantry Corps
Date of Death:
1988-02-14
Cause of Death:
Killed in action, in South Eastern Angola during a contact with elements of the 59th FAPLA Brigade during Operation Hooper. The B Company, 1 SAI troops had not klaared out prior to deployment for Ops Hooper so they became 61 Mech Battalion Bravo Company Element and swopped over with B Company 4 SAI. Their Ratel Armoured Personnel Carrier, Callsign 22C was hit on the left hand side and knocked out by a 23mm Soviet ZU-23-2 Anti-aircraft gun deployed in the ground role. On the right hand side where the Groenewald Cousins had been sitting, a large hole was ripped out of the vehicle making it apparent that at some point, the Ratel had also been struck by a South African 105 mm discarding sabot anti-tank round
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
Block J, Row 2, Grave 28
Cemetery:
OUDTSHOORN NEW CEMETERY
Localitly:
Western Cape
Country:
South Africa
Additional Information
Son of Mrs. L. Groenwald, of Oudtshoorn. Cousin of P. H. Groenwald who died in service in same action