General Benjamin Johannes Viljoen died on his farm in New Mexico on 14 January 1917 and is buried at the Masonic Cemetery in La Mesa.
When the South African War (1899-1902) broke out General Ben Viljoen saw action on the Natal front being in command of the Johannesburg Commando. He was then active in battles against the British, with General de la Rey when the British crossed the Vaal River.
When conventional warfare ended he formed a powerful guerrilla commando consisting of men from Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, Boksburg and the North and East Transvaal commandos. His greatest success in the guerrilla phase of the war was the battle of Helvetia on 29 December1900 where he captured 235 men and the Naval 4.7-inch gun named the Lady Roberts.
He was eventually captured on 25 January 1902 and sent to St. Helena. He returned to South Africa as a pauper but refused to take British citizenship.
