1. Benjamin Johannes "Ben" Viljoen was an Afrikaner-American consul, soldier, farmer, Maderista, and Boer general.
21 Facts About Ben Viljoen
1. 2.
Ben Viljoen spent his early years on the Varkiesdraai farm near Umtata.
3.
Ben Viljoen attained the position of Assistant Commandant-General of the Transvaal Burgher Forces and was member for Krugersdorp in the Transvaal Volksraad.
4.
Ben Viljoen is famously attributed to saying in the Volksraad that it was time to put trust in "God and the Mauser".
5.
Ben Viljoen led the Johannesburg Commando, the great nemesis of the Uitlanders and he fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte on 21 October 1899, where he narrowly escaped capture by the British.
6.
Later Ben Viljoen fought with distinction in the Battle of Vaal Krantz After the relief of Ladysmith on 28 February 1900 he took up a position on the Biggarsberg, attempting to stop the advance of Lord Dundonald in May 1900 onto Pretoria.
7.
Ben Viljoen was withdrawn to help with the defense of Johannesburg.
8.
Ben Viljoen was promoted to general and was ordered by General Louis Botha to defend the approaches of Middelburg at Bronkhorstspruit.
9.
Ben Viljoen's success resulted in him attaining the high rank of Assistant Commandant-General.
10.
Ben Viljoen's exploits included surprising a garrison at Helvetia in the Eastern Transvaal on 29 December 1900 and temporarily capturing 235 men and a 4.7-inch gun.
11.
Ben Viljoen was eventually captured at Lydenburg on 25 January 1902 and remained prisoner-of-war until May 1902 at the Broadbottom Camp, on St Helena.
12.
Ben Viljoen returned to South Africa as a pauper but refused to take British citizenship, thus greatly reducing his chances of resuming a public career.
13.
Ben Viljoen was disillusioned by rumours claiming that he had collaborated with the British, and he felt that his contribution to the struggle was not recognised.
14.
Ben Viljoen was one of the South African refugee officers who formed a farm colony in Mexico with the assistance of Theodore Roosevelt.
15.
Ben Viljoen returned from Mexico to the US and was instrumental in organising Boer colonies in Dona Ana County at Berino, Chamberino and La Mesa in New Mexico Territory.
16.
Ben Viljoen became involved in civic affairs throughout the Mesilla Valley, and in 1909 he was granted US citizenship.
17.
Ben Viljoen became familiar with both President Theodore Roosevelt and New Mexico Governor George Curry.
18.
Ben Viljoen was commissioned as a Major in the territorial National Guard's First Regiment of Infantry.
19.
Ben Viljoen introduced new crops and farming practices to the Mesilla Valley.
20.
Ben Viljoen was interested in the creation of the Elephant Butte Dam and developed irrigation systems for the valley.
21.
Ben Viljoen died in 1917, at his farm in La Mesa and is buried at the Masonic Cemetery in La Mesa, New Mexico.