Johan Potgieter

Brigadier Johan Potgieter SM ((1935-05-14)14 May 1935 – (1976-01-04)4 January 1976) was a South African Army officer from the artillery who served as OC School of Artillery, SA Military College, Director Artillery, SA Military Academy and later Orange Free State Command. He was appointed the OC 2 Military Area from late 1975 in Operation Savannah.^[2]

Brigadier Johan Diederick Potgieter SM
Born	(1935-05-14)14 May 1935 [1] Bethal, Transvaal
Died	4 January 1976(1976-01-04) (aged 40) Dondo, Angola
Buried	Bethal Cemetery
Branch	South African Army
Years of service	–1976
Rank	Brigadier
Service number	01169895PE
Unit	4 Artillery Regiment
Commands	Commandant SA Army College Commandant SA Military Academy Commandant School of Artillery
Battles / wars	Ops Savannah
Awards
Spouse(s)	Sannie van der Nest

Army career

He completed the Staff Course at the Staff College, Camberley during 1968 and served as Officer Commanding School of Artillery^[3] from 1968 – 1969, SA Army College from 1969 – 1971, Director of Artillery and SA Military Academy during 1973 – 1975. He died after being shot down during Ops Savannah in a Puma helicopter.

Unveiled by his wife at 2 Field Regiment, 1976

Awards and decorations

• Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)
• Permanent Force Good Service Medal