Manie (christened Salomon Gerhardus) Maritz was born in Kimberley on 26 July 1876. He became a ZAR citizen when he fought against the Jameson Raiders, and then joined the ZARPS.
At the outbreak of the South African War (1899-1902) he joined the Boksburg Commando and saw initial action in Natal. A little while later he joined up with Daniel Theron’s scouts and participated in the activities in the Northern Cape. During this period of the war he ordered the killing of a number of coloureds, an action for which many other Boers soldiers were tried and shot. At the end of the war, instead of laying down his arms and swearing allegiance the British, he crossed the border into German South West Africa.
A very interesting man in latter life.
