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Ben Viljoen, who later became a Boer General, happened to be one of the most important men in town in 1897, William Hills wrote in an autobiography published in the Benoni City Times in 1940.
He was an editor, a force in local politics, commandant of the Krugerdorpse Vrywilligers, which he founded in 1896, and the Krugersdorp Veld Cornet.
Viljoen was also a favourite target for criticism by his rival editor, Douglas Blackburn.
“… Ben Viljoen was a sturdily built man about 28 years of age and clean-shaven save for a small black moustache at a time when the more luxuriant the moustache, the prouder was the owner of his possession.
“Always smartly dressed for an editor – why are editors so neglectful of their appearance? He shone in glory when equipped in his uniform as commandant of the Vrywilligers, that famous body of volunteers who were Ben’s pride and joy.
ALSO READ: #JourneyTo100Years: Part 1 of our series on William Hills, founder of the City Times
“… The uniform included a blue jacket liberally adorned with ‘frogs’, in other words heavily braided.”
Hills wrote that Ben, as commandant, boasted a touch of gold braid and loved to hear his sword clank as he drilled his men or headed them on a march through the streets to the sounds of a band.
These ‘gala occasions’ were attended by excited children. The parade invariably ended in the shade of giant bluegum trees on Market Square, almost opposite the Landdrost Court, and was followed by a drill, which observed ‘the most approved standards of Holland’.
“Unfortunately, however, for their commandant, his utmost efforts to enforce discipline were not always successful, and amid the most impressive manoeuvre, he might be asked by an inquisitive burgher in the ranks “Hoekom het jy my naam uit U koerant laat staan? (Why did you leave my name out of your newspaper?)” or “Hoe lyk die Missis? (How is the Missis?)”.
“These interruptions Ben tried to ignore unless they became too pointed.”
However, he was driven to utmost exasperation by Blackburn, seeing no humour in his comments on the Vrywilligers’ performance and objecting to his portrayal as a sort of South African “Tartarin”.
Hills found Viljoen a man of ‘great energy and enterprise’ and said he was a good example of a soldier of fortune ‘of the better type’.
“… And we always got on well together despite our varying views.”
Next time: Hills falls victim to a hoax
(Article: Carol Stier).
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Part 15 in our series on William Hills: The duel that didn’t come off
