02/06/2026
The Fallen: 01 June
On this day, we remember with honour and pride members of the Rhodesian forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice. May they rest in eternal peace.
1974 – Trooper Norman James MARTIN, C Squadron, SAS. Died in a vehicle accident on Hatfield Road, Salisbury. He was 20 years old.
1976 – Lance Corporal Alfonse MAKUMBE, 1st Battalion, RAR, killed on active service. Died from head injuries received in a vehicle accident in Gwelo, at the age of 19.
1976 – Superintendent Alexander Peter MOORES, Special Branch, died on active service. Died at his desk of a heart attack, aged 43. He was given a full military funeral at Warren Hills Cemetery, Salisbury, on 4 June.
1977 – Private M. CHINWAYI, Depot Rhodesian Regimen, killed on active service. Died in a vehicle accident.
1977 – Corporal Victor EDWARDS, Rhodesian Defence Regiment, died on active service.
1977 – RiflemanGary Douglas SUMMERS, Signals Troop, 1 (Independent) Company, Rhodesia Regiment, killed on active service. Accidental death in the Binga district, Op Tangent. Gary had been acting as a radio relay on Mt Tundazi in the Siabuwa TTL, across the valley from the BSAP base. It was reported that a fire had started by accident, and whilst trying to put out the fire, Gary slipped and fell over the edge.
1978 – Guard N. CHINYIMO, Protected Village Protection Group, died on active service.
1978 – Guard FANI (not his surname), Protected Village Protection Group, KIA. This would almost certainly not have been his surname, but his first name - a not uncommon habit back then of clerical "errors." Sadly, we may never know his surname, which is so important in tracing our black soldier's tribal background.
1978 – Guard GEORGE (not his surname), Protected Village Protection Group, KIA.
1978 – Guard G. MANASA, Protected Village Protection Group, died on active service.
1978 – Guard S. MAPISE, Protected Village Protection Group, died on active service.
1978 – Guard D. MOYO, Protected Village Protection Group, died on active service.
1978 – Guard N. PFEREDZAI, Protected Village Protection Group, died on active service.
1978 – Guard H. PINGE, Protected Village Protection Group, died on active service.
1978 – Guard WILLIE (not his surname), Protected Village Protection Group, KIA.
1979 – Sergeant Francis Joseph BATCHELOR, died on active service.
1979 – Private Edison DAVID (not his surname), HQ4 Brigade, KIA. Died of gunshot wounds in a CT action. 1979 – Field Reservist Gerald Norman "Gerry" GAZE, Police Reserve, BSAP, KIA. Killed in a contact whilst looking for a terrorist base camp on the boundary of Chobi section and Siyoka TTL, Gwanda/Beitbridge. districts. Buried at Mazunga.
1979 – Warrant Officer 2 Charles William "Charlie" HARRISON, Squadron, Rhodesian Corps of Engineers, killed on active service. Died as a result of injuries sustained when the army truck he was travelling in overturned on the Birchenough Bridge/Chipinga road.
1979 – Acting Corporal Abel HASANI, HQ, 4 Brigade, KIA. Died of gunshot wounds in a CT action. An alternative spelling of the surname might be "Hafani".
1979 – Rifleman Jans Johannes LEENDERT, Army, died on active service.
1979 – Paul LENTNER, KIA. Died of wounds received in an ambush.
1979 – Private Madimisa MAYATAME, HQ, 4 Brigade, KIA. Died of gunshot wounds received in a CT action. 1979 – Private Chokosi MOZICA, HQ, 4 Brigade, KIA. Died of gunshot wounds received in a CT action
1979 – Guard Steven SAMSON (not his surname), Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, died on active service.
“So for those who fell in battle, let us stand,
Remember just for what they died,
Of those shall be our boast and pride”.
Gerry van Tonder
(Images: Dudley Wall)
Please remember that the 1st day of each month the number of entries seem high, because those for whom I don’t have a specific day in a given month, the data base defaults to the 1st.
