Chris Le Roux

Maj Gen Chris le Roux SD SM MMM is a retired General Officer from the South African Army. He was born in Dundee[1] and matriculated from Pinetown Boys' High School in 1963.[1]

Major General

Christoffel Erasmus le Roux

SD SM MMM
Nickname(s)Chris
Born(1946-04-20)20 April 1946
Dundee, Natal
Allegiance South Africa
Service/branch South African Army
Years of service1964–2000
RankBrigadier
Unit1 Parachute Battalion
Commands held
  • GOC RJTF East
  • GOC Natal Command
  • OC 1 Parachute Battalion
Battles/warsSouth African Border War
AwardsSouthern Cross Decoration SD Southern Cross Medal SM Military Merit Medal MMM Pro Patria Medal (South Africa) ' Southern Africa Medal ' General Service Medal (South Africa) ' Unitas (Unity) Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal '
Spouse(s)Marlyna le Roux

Military career

He joined the South African Defence Force in 1964[1] and completed infantry training. He was a student at the South African Military Academy from 1965 and graduated with a Bachelor of Military Science degree awarded by the University of Stellenbosch in 1967.[1]

He was commissioned as a lieutenant on 21 November 1967[1] and qualified as a static line paratrooper[2][3] on 9 October 1970. Officer Commanding 1 Parachute Battalion during 1984 to 1988.[1][4] Brigadier le Roux served as Officer Commanding Natal Command from 18 February 1995. He was promoted to rank of major general on 1 January 1996 and remained GOC Natal Command until 31 March 2000, the last person to hold that post.[1] GOC Regional Joint Task Force on 1 April to 31 December 2000. He went on early retirement on 31 December 2000.[1] He has remained actively involved in speaking about the military.[5][6]

Maj Gen Chris le Roux completed more than 300 parachute jumps[1] and was a qualified Freefall Instructor.

Honours and awards
Freefall Instructor
(Qualification)
Instructor, Freefall Qualified
Black on Thatch beige, Embossed
Large Black wings

Medals

Notes
  1. Only the Cunene clasp was awarded, to members who served in Angola during Operation Savannah in 1975 and 1976. Recipients of the clasp wear a button, with the letter C encircled by a wreath, on the ribbon bar.

References
  1. Averweg, Udo Richard (14 March 2019). "Stark reality of Natal Command" (PDF). Daily News. p. 6. Retrieved 13 July 2023 – via Facts About Durban.
  2. "South African Unit Profiles : 1 Parachute Battalion". www.warinangola.com (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  3. Bierman, Jan (2020). "RHODESIË ONTPLOOIING G & A KOMPANIE, 1 VALSKERMBATALJON: OPS (16 OKT 79 – 01 DES 79)" (PDF). Pretoria Canopy Bat Chat (in Afrikaans). No. 4/20. pp. 15, 18.
  4. Rooiplaas (22 May 2021). "Did you know? HISTORY". Rooiplaas - Paratroopers Community. Retrieved 13 July 2023. Colonel Chris le Roux was the Officer Commanding of 1 Para Bn 1984
  5. "July 2005 newsletter - Durban - South African Military History Society - Title page". samilitaryhistory.org. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  6. "The South African Military History Society". The Bugle. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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