Werndly van der Riet

Lieutenant General Werndly Renaut Booysie van der Riet SSA SM MC (27 April 1914 – 28 February 1987)^[1] was a South African Army officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff.^[2]: 98

Lieutenant General Werndly Renaut van der Riet SSA SM MC
Nickname(s)	Booysie
Born	(1914-04-27)27 April 1914
Died	28 February 1987(1987-02-28) (aged 72) Cape Town
Allegiance	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Years of service	1935 – 1974
Rank	Lieutenant General
Service number	60663V / 01222082PE
Unit	1 Special Service Battalion
Commands	Chief of Defence Staff SA Army College Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment 1 Special Service Battalion
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards
Spouse(s)	Marijke van der Riet née Gesterkamp ​ ​ (died)​ Valerie Norma van der Riet née Geerdts ​ ​ (date missing)​ [1]
Relations	Col JMR "Manie" van der Riet - OC 3 South African Infantry Battalion (son)
Other work	Hon. Col. Wits Rifles

Military career

He was awarded the Military Cross during World War II.^[3]

He commanded Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment^[4] from 1945 to 1946 and 1 Special Service Battalion from Oct 1953 to Dec 1960.^[2]: 98 He completed the British Army Staff Course at Camberley, Officer Commanding SA Army College. Acting Chief of Staff SADF before Toby Moll.

Awards and decorations

General van der Riet was awarded the following:

• Star of South Africa (1952) (SSA)
• Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)
• Military Cross (MC) (Great Britain)
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (Great Britain)
• Union Medal (South Africa)
• 1939–45 Star (Great Britain)
• Africa Star (Great Britain)
• Italy Star (Great Britain)
• Defence Medal (United Kingdom) (Great Britain)
• War Medal 1939–1945 (Great Britain)
• Africa Service Medal (WWII) (South Africa)