Corporal Peter Noel Wiggell HC

1952-1977                         

RIP! 05 Jul 1977: Corporal Peter Noel Wiggell HC from the Technical Services Corps was Killed in Action during a contact with PLAN insurgents while attached to Bravo Company Regiment Algoabaai. He was 25. (Only the previous year on 15 December 1976, Corporal Peter Wiggell was awarded the Honoris Crux after PLAN insurgents had opened fire on his TB near the Yati Strip with a Soviet 82 mm mortar mounted on the back of a truck. The platoon OP had seen the trucks lights and had climbed down the large tree in order to inform the mortar section of the truck's position. He was on his way back to his post when at approximately 22h00, PLAN opened fire. Corporal Wiggell, now back up the tree, opened fire with his LMG on the trucks position and directed counter mortar fire onto the PLAN position. PLAN insurgents returned fire with a 12,7mm heavy machine gun. The platoon launched 36 x 60mm High Explosive bombs onto the PLAN position and the truck received a direct hit. Corporal Wiggell had no protection whatsoever from enemy incoming fire while up the tree and despite the fact that the tree was virtually ripped apart by enemy machine-gun fire, he came away without a scratch. For his courageous action in the face of devastating enemy fire, he unflinchingly brought effective counter mortar fire onto the enemy position thereby saving not only the TB from being possibly overrun but also saving the lives of many of his).

Sergeant J.H Labuschagne, HC

Corporal E.J. Rosenstrauch, HC and Private J.J. Kussendrager, HC