LOUIS BOTHA

Born near Greytown, Natal, on the 27^th September 1862.

Died at Pretoria on the 27^th August 1919.

During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) General Botha played a leading role in the fighting at Ladysmith, Colenso and Spion Kop. In command of Boer forces on the Natal front, he held the Tugela line from December 1899 to February 1900. Commander-in-chief of the Transvaal Boers, he conducted a series of holding operations then led a concentrated guerrilla campaign against the British.

He later worked towards Peace, representing the Boers at the peace negociations in 1902.

In 1907 he became Prime Minister of the Transvaal, then in 1910 was chosen the first Premier of the newly formed Union of South Africa.

In 1914, he took command of the Union forces in German South West Africa. On the 14^th February 1915, he personally took command of the South African Northern Force. Windhuk was captured on 12^th May 1915 and the German forces surrendered on the 9^th July 1915.

He was present at the Peace Conference in Versailles in June 1919.