Annual South African Army Infantry Memorial Service, Fort Klapperkop, 25 January 2009

Article by Major Merlé Meyer, South African Army Infantry Communication

Banners of the Veterans Organisation

The annual South African Army Infantry Memorial Service was held at Fort Klapperkop on Sunday, 25 January 2009. This event is jointly arranged by the South African Army Infantry Formation and the Infantry Association and is held every year on the Sunday closest to 22 January, as this is the date on which the proclamation of the South African Infantry Corps was announced in 1954. Therefore, the South African Infantry Corps celebrates its 55th anniversary this year.

FLTR: Commander Gerryts and the Military Assistant Attaché from the Netherlands

Several infantry units and military veterans organisations as well as the Military Attachés laid wreaths. Family and friends were also given the opportunity to lay wreaths in honour of their loved ones who paid the highest sacrifice for the country.

The General Officer Commanding of the SA Army Infantry Formation, Major General Nkabinde said that the Infantry is often referred to as being the “queen of the battlefield” as it is like the queen on the chessboard. The Infantry is versatile and possesses numerous capabilities that enable it to fight under all conditions. This flexibility is also called the spirit of the Infantry Corps and the Infantry Corps has lived up to this spirit by being the core component of the landward defence capability.

Chief of Staff South African Infantry Formation, Brigadier General Krubert Nel

Major General Nkabinde mentioned that our external deployments are not without casualties and made special mention of the two members we lost in the Sudan and the two we lost in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also mentioned how quickly the xenophobic attacks were quelled after the Rapid Reaction Infantry Battalion (21 South African Army Infantry Battalion) was deployed in support of the South African Police Service.

He also mentioned that our present challenge is recruitment, training and development of soldiers who will live up to the spirit of the corps, soldiers who understand and accept that they are serving in the South African National Defence Force, fulfilling the highest calling ever: defending the country and its people.

Major General Nkabinde also remembered two veteran Infanteers who passed away last year, namely Lieutenant General Hattingh Pretorius, who was a previous Chief of the South African Army and Lieutenant General André van Deventer, who was the commander during Operation SAVANNAH and also the Deputy Honourary President of the Infantry Association.

Major General Nkabinde said; “Also honoured are all Infanteers who paid the supreme sacrifice in serving the country, and may their loved ones forever rejoice in the knowledge that they served the country with pride and dignity. They are the nation’s heroes.”