Ben Viljoen

Benjamin Johannes Viljoen
General Ben Viljoen (seated) and his Secretary (Mr. J. Visser)
Born	(1869-09-07)7 September 1869 Varkiesdraai, Wodehouse district,  British Cape Colony
Died	14 January 1917(1917-01-14) (aged 47) La Mesa,  New Mexico
Allegiance	South African Republic  United States
Years of service	1896–1902
Rank	Assistant Commandant-General Major
Unit	Krugersdorpse Vrywilligerskorps Transvaal Burgher Force Johannesburg Commando 1st Infantry Regiment, New Mexico National Guard
Battles/wars	First Boer War (1880–1881) Jameson Raid (1895–1896) Second Boer War (1899–1902) Battle of Elandslaagte (1899) Battle of Witpoort (1900)
Other work	Member of the Volksraad (Transvaal Parliament) In 1902 wrote his autobiography "My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War", In 1904 participated in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Civic life in New Mexico Consul in Germany.

 South African Republic

Assistant Commandant-General

Krugersdorpse Vrywilligerskorps
Transvaal Burgher Force
Johannesburg Commando

First Boer War (1880–1881)
Jameson Raid (1895–1896)
Second Boer War (1899–1902)

Benjamin Johannes "Ben" Viljoen (7 September 1869 – 14 January 1917) was an American Consul, soldier, farmer, Maderista, and Boer general of Afrikaner origin. Viljoen was born in a cave in the Wodehouse district of the Cape Colony to Susanna Magdalena Storm and Wynand Johannes Viljoen. This was the temporary residence of the Viljoen family while their farm house was being constructed. He spent his early years on the Varkiesdraai farm near Umtata. He attained the position of Assistant Commandant-General of the Transvaal Burgher Forces and was member for Krugersdorp in the Transvaal Volksraad.

In 1890 he moved to Johannesburg and in 1896 he founded the Krugersdorpse Vrywilligerskorps experiencing combat with the Jameson Raiders. On the Uitlander issue, Viljoen was an ally of Paul Kruger. He is famously attributed to saying in the Volksraad that it was time to put trust in "God and the Mauser".