Your guide to Heidelberg Gauteng
#General Piet Viljoen's House
Heritage Blue Plaque #Nr 30
GENERAL PIET VILJOEN'S HOUSE - 1 Pretorius Street
What is the story here?
General Piet Viljoen, grandson of the Voortrekker leader Piet Retief, served as adjutant to Commandant General Piet Joubert during the Transvaal War of Independence (2nd Anglo-Boer War) and in the Mapoch War. In 1887 he was appointed Mining Commissioner in Heidelberg. During the 2nd Anglo-Boer War, Viljoen served under General Andries Cronje, until the latter turned renegade, and took command of the British National Scouts. Viljoen returned to Heidelberg with 30 Burghers and joined the Heidelberg Commando, serving in the Dorp Wyk (Town Ward).
General Piet Retief Viljoen (1853-1926)
On the 27th May 1900, General Roberts crossed the Vaal heading for Johannesburg. In June the Boers were impelled to formulate a new guerrilla strategy in order to continue the war and on the 15th of June, the officers of the Heidelberg Commando met to rethink their position. Cmdt Cornelius T. Spruyt – until then the Commanding Officer of the Dorp Wyk – was sent to serve directly under General Louis Botha, and Viljoen, then aged 47, assumed command.
Heidelberg fell to General Hart’s column on the 23rd of June 1900.
General Viljoen negotiated the surrender of the town, with General Hart, offering to leave the town on the 23rd of June, in order to save the town from British shelling. Viljoen ordered that all surplus arms and ammunition be destroyed, before he left Heidelberg with his Burghers at midnight of the 22nd.
Viljoen continued to serve with the Boer Forces until their eventual surrender in May 1902, and was included as a delegate at the Peace Conference at Vereeniging.
After the war, Viljoen returned to his post as Mining Commissioner in Heidelberg, and died in 1926 at the age of 73. (Source: Tour Guide of Heidelberg compiled by Lynn Fordred)
Viljoen is buried with his wife Susanna Adriana nee Pretorius in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.
Mrs Susanna Adriana nee Pretorius, Viljoen (1859-1932)
The Viljoen family were badly treated by the English troops during the British occupation. On one occasion they demanded their Transvaal flags. They were handed over. She was known as a kindly woman. One day she was taken under escort to Johannesburg, because she had said, “Damn the general, Damn the Brigade major and damn you”, to the local policeman and was reprimanded.
Piet Viljoen had three sons who served with him in the War. Marthinus (Ouboet), Pieter an attorney and Henning, 17.
Pieter
Was to be a prominent Attorney in the town and founder of the firm, Viljoen & Meek.
Martiens (Ouboet) had grown his hair shoulder length during the war and was famed for his calf leather outfit and hat which he wore in the field. When the King and queen visited South Africa in 1947, Queen Elizabeth picked out the man in the leather clothes and spoke at length to Ouboet. This outfit was preserved at the Klipkerk museum with numerous photographs of Ouboet Viljoen. These items were moved to the AG Visser House Museum and have been stolen.
Ouboet
Was a prominent Heidelberger, who took part in many events, notable among them being an orchestra, called the Wilhelmina band which he started. He had written a diary of his experience and has been made into a book named “Perre toe” by Willem J. Pretorius.
Henning
General Piet Viljoen’s younger son Henning, 19, was killed at Bushmans Kop, on the other side of Nigel, on the 6th of March 1902. They were in a block house on which they had taken over and the English had fired a cannon at them. Just as he was leaving, a bomb took away the whole top part of his head. (Note by Tony: I am still looking for his grave)
Source: “Heidelbergers of the Boer War” by Ian Uys
Picture Credits: “Heidelbergers of the Boer War” by Ian Uys and “Perre toe” by Willem J. Pretorius.
(Note by Tony: Interesting that the window shatters that have now been erected on the house for show, are the original shutters of “Oak View Manor” in Fenter Street)
