During the Vereeniging Branch’s Winter Function, held at Lions Creek Wedding Venue, in Vereeniging, on Saturday 7 June, the spirit of camaraderie and respect within the Gunners’ community was displayed as one of its oldest members, Gunner Piet Langenhoven, was celebrated on reaching the grand age of ninety. This remarkable milestone was commemorated with the presentation of a nonagenarian certificate, a symbol of his long-lived dedication and service.
The honours were bestowed by fellow Gunner, Renier Henning, Chairman of the Vereeniging Branch and Gunner Wolf Wassermeier, National Vice President of the Gunners’ Association of South Africa.
Gunner Piet Langenhoven’s involvement with the Citizen Force started in 1953, the first year that he enrolled as a student at the University of Pretoria. In that year there was a recruitment drive to sign up members for a unit of the citizen force, 1 Observation Regiment, SAA, of which a battery was stationed at the University. He signed up for duty.
Military service in those times consisted of basic training of six weeks, mostly spent on parade ground drills, with some time spent on the training required by the weapons to which you were allotted. This was followed by a further two periods of three weeks each, to be completed in a space of four years, after which you could ask to be discharged. In 1956 he was discharged having served his time, and transferred to the general reserve. He held the rank of lance bombardier.
Gunner Langenhoven completed his law degree in 1959 and started to work as a law clerk at Pretoria, took transfer to Vereeniging in 1961, and was admitted as attorney, notary and conveyancer in March of 1962. He has practiced law in Vereeniging, where the Regiment Vaalrivier was stationed, since that date.
He again signed up to the citizen force during 1962 this time at 1 LAA (RVR) and followed the normal citizen force program of one camp, one training cause until he was appointed CO of Regiment Vaal River in 1972.
He recalls the highlight of his military career was Operation Savannah -January to April 1976 during which the full Regiment was mobilised. In addition to Gunner Renier and Gunner Wolf Wassermeier, and his wife Benita, the ceremony was attended by Gunner Tiaan Steyn, HLVP, and Guest Speaker on the day, the Vereeniging Branch Committee and Branch members.
Gunner Piet Langenhoven, the Vereeniging Branch salutes you!
Ubique