In Memory Of

JOAO, JOSHUA

Service Details
Age:
 24
Date of Birth:
 -0001-11-30
Service No:
 79830626SP
Rank:
 Rifleman
Unit:
 32 (Buffalo) Battalion
Regiment:
 South West African Territory Force
Date of Death:
 1980-06-04
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, south of Mutuanjamba (approximately 80km inside Angola) during first phase of Operation Sceptic, specifically area clearing and domination as well as establishment of tactical HQ at Mulemba
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 Body not recovered
Cemetery:
 SADF WALL OF REMEMBRANCE, VOORTREKKER MONUMENT, PRETORIA
Localitly:
 Gauteng
Country:
 South Africa
Additional Information
Joao was badly wounded and Braz and Van Der Walt were killed when their patrol crossed a gravel road in the kill zone of a vehicle ambush. Large force of dug in SWAPO with mortars and machine guns were able to inflict casualties and pin the patrol down. Reinforcements dislodged the ambushing force, but were forced to secure the immediate area and attend to casualties rather than pursue the enemy. Joao withdrew and attempted to return to nearby TB, but became lost and died of wounds (according to intercepts and evidence supported by his badly damaged equipment). Despite extensive efforts to find him, he was not recovered