13 Facts About Deneys Reitz

Deneys Reitz, son of Francis William Reitz, was a Boer soldier who fought in the Second Boer War for the Boer Republics against the British Empire.

Deneys Reitz's recollections were published in 1929 as Commando: A Boer Journal of the Boer War.

Deneys Reitz met his father with the President of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger, who took him straight to the room of the Commandant-General Piet Joubert.

Deneys Reitz joined General Smuts who decided to conduct guerrilla operations, not in the territories of the Boer republics, but in the Cape Colony.

Deneys Reitz encountered Captain Sandeman, the Lancers' commander, and his lieutenant Lord Vivian among the wounded.

Deneys Reitz formed part of the negotiating delegation from his commando, given passage to meet the delegates from the other commandos still in the field.

Deneys Reitz felt that he had to stand by his father and so refused to sign.

Deneys Reitz left for Madagascar with his brother, where they eked out a living convoying goods by ox-transport "hard work in dank fever-stricken forests and across mountains sodden with eternal rain".

Deneys Reitz then completed his studies and in 1908 in Heilbron began his successful career as a lawyer.

Deneys Reitz led his men to the Rhine after the Armistice, as detailed in his book Trekking On.

Deneys Reitz joined Smuts' South African Party, becoming the member of the House of Assembly of South Africa for Bloemfontein South, defeating Colin Steyn of the National Party by 101 votes in the first of their three contests for this seat.

Deneys Reitz opposed the Ossewa Brandwag organisation, which planned to take control of South Africa as soon as Britain had been crushed.

Deneys Reitz was a social reformer, an outspoken advocate of women's rights and suffrage for women, and the first woman member of the Assembly.