Helm Roos
Brigadier Helm Roos (1930–1992) was a senior officer in the South African Army from the artillery . He was a qualified Army Air Observation Pilot who served as OC 7 South African Division and Western Province Command before his retirement in the seventies.[1]
Helm Roos | |
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Born | 1930 |
Died | [1] Cape Town, Cape Province | 11 May 1992
Allegiance | South Africa |
Service/ | South African Army |
Rank | Brigadier |
Unit | 4 Field Regiment |
Commands held |
|
Battles/wars | Ops Savannah |
Awards | |
Spouse(s) | Jill Roos[1] |
Relations | Wife |
Other work | Hon Colonel[1] – Cape Town Rifles |
Army career
He served as an artilleryman in 4 Field Training Regiment and 14 Field Regiment. As a major, he completed the British Army Command and Staff course in the fifties. He was in command of the management team in Angola during the "Bridge 14" operation circa 1974 during the cold-war era power vacuum left by the Portuguese evacuation. He later commanded 14 Fd Regt and was appointed as the Military Attaché in Portugal and OC Western Province Command. He was an Honorary Colonel of The Cape Town Rifles (Dukes) between 1991 and 1992.
Awards and decorations
- Pro Patria Medal (South Africa) (with Cunene Clasp) [lower-alpha 1]
- Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
- Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
- Permanent Force Good Service Medal
Master Gunner: 1008 | |
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Brigadier Helm Roos[lower-alpha 2] | |
Year: Before 1970 | |
←1007: Brigadier Willie Kotze |
Unknown :1009→ |
Post Army career
He was recruited by the Royal Dutch Shell Oil company at retirement from the Army to the position of Chief of Security South Africa, where he served the remainder of his life espousing the principle of "being the harder nut to crack". He succumbed to prostate cancer in 2 Military hospital in 1992.
Notes
- 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.
- Grandfathered. Long Gunnery Course, Larkhill, Great Britain. Number is assigned for convenience.
References
- "DIE BURGER LAASTE,13 Mei 1992 bladsy 2:Brig. Helm Roos (61) sterf ná lang siekbed". Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.