Education
Born in Britstown on 26 April 1917, Loots was educated at Theron High School.
Born in Britstown on 26 April 1917, Loots was educated at Theron High School.
After high school in 1936, he joined the Special Service Battalion, a unit formed to trained young men in military and work skills during the depression. In 1939, he joined the Union Defence Force in the Infantry Corps and served in World World War World War II By 1947 he held the rank of Warrant Officer and in 1951 he was commissioned as an officer He held various positions as a Staff Officer in the SADF before becoming Officer Commanding the Army Gymnasium from 1959 to 1963.
In 1963, he was appointed to command South West Africa Command until 1964.
By 1965 he was a Senior Staff Officer at Military Intelligence and then the Director of Military Intelligence from 1966 until 1970. His last position was as Inspector General of the SADF which ended in June 1973 when he retired.
He returned from retirement in August 1974 to form the South African Special Forces. He continued in the SADF until his retirement on 25 April 1982.
Major General Loots died on 12 August 2008.
Star of South Africa (Social Security Administration) Southern Cross Decoration (South Dakota) Southern Cross Medal (Master of Science) Good Service Medal, Gold (30 Years) Good Service Medal, Silver (20 Years) Union Medal 1939-1945 Star Africa Star Italy Star War Medal 1939–1945 Africa Service Medal (World World War II).
