List of Plates

Some of Charlie’s boys enjoying a few beers listening to U2. Just a typical night circa June 1987 at 61 Mech. (Photo Warren Adams). Standing from left to right: Kurt (Stompie) Oelofse (gunner 33, injured 3 October), Warren Adams (gunner 33A), Dave Chester (Logistics driver), Gary Pearman-White (gunner 33C, seriously injured during MiG attack on 8 October), Glen Woodhouse (driver 33, seriously injured on 3 October), Wayne Fraser (echelon Sergeant and former crew commander of ill-fated 33C. Seated: Frikkie (Bees) De Jäger (driver 33C, killed in action 8 October 1987), Raymond Clark (driver 33B)

Gunnery training at School of Armour. The 90mm turret atop the ‘Noddy’ car. (School of Armour)

1st pass out after Basic Training. (Elizabeth Mannall)

Part way through Officer training. (Elizabeth Mannall)

Back home – Alive! (Graham Mannall)

2nd LT Hind (KIA) (call-sign 33) in command of King Tiger as our convoy hogs the highway. (Len M. Robberts)

Owamboland desert convoy from the Sergeant Major’s perspective. (Barry Taylor)

View from the 90mm turret as 53 Battalion Assault Pioneers (Storm Pioneer) mine one of the richest seams of subterranean explosive material in the world. (Barry Taylor)

Innocent victim of Angola’s long civil war. Ratels; 101 Battalion. (Barry Taylor)

UNITA fighters take up the lead in preparation for Battle Group Alpha’s very first attack on FAPLA. (Len M. Robberts)

UNITA 106mm recoilless anti-tank unit moving past us during a stop. (Len M. Robberts)

Battle planning and operational update deep in Angola. (Len M. Robberts)

Charlie Squadron on the move. (Len M. Robberts)

An enemy logistics vehicle feels HEAT as Charlie Squad move into the Chambinga Highlands near Cuito Cuanavale. (Martin Bremer)

View through the commanders’ cupola during an attack on 49th Brigade, the thick glass made target finding extremely challenging in the dense forest. (Len M. Robberts)

Tired after a long day in the saddle. (Anthony de Robillard)

L/Cpls Donald Brown, James Sharp with Trooper vd Merwe. (Martin Bremer)

Treacherous travelling through wet season conditions, note the vehicle column has cut deep furrows in the mud. (Len M. Robberts)

The Brigade bell liberated from the 47th following their capitulation on 3rd Oct 1987. Fittingly, it now forms a centrepiece to the Hind Memorial at the Johannesburg War Museum. (Martin Bremer)

31 Charlie destroyed and burned out following 8 October MiG strike. (Len M. Robberts)

Charlie Squadron and the Assault Pioneer Platoon. This photo was hastily taken circa 10 October ‘before we lost more guys’. (Len M. Robberts)

Olifant tank joins the party in November. (Martin Bremer)

Gunner holds two 90mm rounds while being reminded of the price of poor gunnery. (Barry Taylor)

This may be after drinking the Omuthiya Special. Cpl Venter and I getting chummy with Assault Pioneer LT Len Robberts standing on right. (Len M. Robberts)

Survivor. Angolan grime scrubbed away on our final day at Omuthiya. Posing at the NCOs’ tent, our bedroom on base. (Dave Mannall)