Regimental Sergeant Majors from 1962 – 2006
Regimental sergeant-majors Timeframe Sgt-Maj PJ Grove 08/01/1962 – 11/07/1962 Sgt-Maj PJ Botes 12/07/1962 – 02/08/1962 Sgt-Maj OR Wocke 0308/1962 – 19/07/1963 Sgt-Maj GA Erasmus 20/07/1963 – 21/08/1970 Sgt-Maj JH Kieser 22/08/1970 – 21/12/1977 Sgt-Maj R Claassen 01/01/1978 – 31/12/1980 Sgt-Maj IJ Marais 01/12/1981 – 31/12/1983 Sgt-Maj JL Landman 01/01/1984 – 18/12/1988 Sgt-Maj SS Baard 19/12/1988 […]
Officers Commanding from 1961 – 2009
Edit Officers Commanding Timeframe Cmdt WP Louw 01/04/1961 – 05/11/1965 Cmdt J Fourie 06/01/1965 0 30/11/1967 Cmdt MJ du Plessis 01/12/1967 – 12/12/1968 Cmdt GJ Viviers 13/12/1968 – 22/09/1972 Cmdt JPM Moller 06/10/1972 – 12/12/1974 Cmdt TE Olckers 13/12/1974 – 31/12/1977 Cmdt (Col) DJ Moore 01/01/1978 – 31/12/1981 Col AL van Graan 01/12/1982 – 01/12/1983 […]
Members of 1 Bn who excelled in sport
Name Sport Achievement Col At Schoeman Pentathlon Springbok Col Andre Bestbier Rugby Army Col Anton van Graan Bisley shooting Springbok Lt Nick du Plessis Practical shooting Springbok SSgt Willie O’Neil Bisley shooting Springbok SSgt Harry Finlay Boxing Provincial: Golden Gloves (USA) Serg Anton Nicolaisen Cross country Springbok Kpl Stiaan Marais Boxing Willie Kahts Rugby Springbok […]
Paratroopers who obtained national colours in sport
Name Sport Cmdt SD van Niekerk Diensskiet Col AL van Graan Grootkaliberskiet Lt AS Wheeler Judo Kol A Bestbier Rugby Brig JPF Botha Rugby Capt J de Jager Freefall Parachuting Lt-genl MJ du Plessis Pentathlon Cmdt AHS Schoeman Pentathlon Capt N Visser Pentathlon Maj G Leibbrandt Tug of War (Junior Springbok colours) Taken with permission […]
The ‘Aapkas’
The Aapkas (published in The Friend, 20 August 1975) The first two weeks of the course are probably the most important in the aspirant paratroopers’ training. It is during this short period that they have to pass certain physical training tests. These tests include running 3.2km in 18 minutes, 1.6km cross-country, jumping over a 3m […]
The Marble
The marble is a 32-34kg solid concrete block that was incorporated into paratrooper training. Physical activities with the marble included a 10km run and physical training periods of 40 minutes. The marble even became airborne. It was attached to each troop with a 5 meter rope, resembling the weight of a full kit. The marble […]
FATHERS AND SONS THAT QUALIFIED AT 1 PARA BN
3x Pinnock, Vince & Vernon. Dad & younger brother qualified in the UK. 3x Sybie, Dad, Sybie Jr, Olla vd Spuy. All 3 became Recces. 3x Strauss, Johann (69). Eldest son, Karl (91) other son Jaco (93). 3x Scalliet, Dad and two sons 3x Erasmus, Dad and sons 3x Moorcroft Koos and his […]
(Real) BROTHERS IN ARMS AT 1 PARA BN: 3X BROTHERS
Maree, Thabo, Puna & Daps from Bultfontein Bender Koot (1991), Arnold (1992), Chris (1994) Labuschagne Gerber Schoonraad Potgieter Blaauw, Hennie, Dawid (†), Johan Maree Nel Greyling Meyer Gouws, Andre, Nola & Tobie Le Roux, Tertius, Gerhard & Riaan.
(Real) BROTHERS IN ARMS AT 1 PARA BN: 4X BROTHERS
Otto, Albert, Johan , Neels & Andries de Kock, Xandie, Con, Naude & Louw Van Jaarsveld Strauss Barnard, Rex, Charl, Leon & Louis (1976 B Comp), Sarge and his brothers (Can’t remember their surname!)
(Real) BROTHERS IN ARMS AT 1 PARA BN
One of the outstanding achievements of the SA Paraforces is the brothers in the qualified units as jumpers. No other unit in the world can compare with the SA paratroopers in years gone by. The statistics speak for itself – 129 parents produced 324 paratroopers! What other unit in the world can match this achievement! […]
