Lt Gen (Gunner) PO du Preez passed away at age 84 on 7 September 2026 at his home in Yzerfontein, Western Cape.
He joined the South African Artillery in the early 1960s at Youngsfield at the (Then) Anti-aircraft Training Centre. Philip then graduated at the Military Academy and Stellenbosch University.
He served as a Battery Commander and as he progressed, he worked with Armscor during the acquisition of the Crotale (Cactus in South Africa) Air Defence System in France.
In 1975 -6 he was appointed as liaison officer to UNITA and served in Operation Savannah.
As a Brigadier he appointed as Chief Army Staff Logistics and later as Deputy Chief Staff Logistics at Defence HQ. He succeeded V Adm AG Malherbe as Chief Staff Logistics in 1995 and retired in 1998.
Gen du Preez also served as the General of the Gunners during his time as Chief Staff Logistics and after retiring he was the National President of the Gunners Association.
He leaves his wife Tan and two children.