Jan Christian Smuts, a Commandant-General in the South African War (1899-1902), who was eventually promoted to the rank of Field Marshall, died on 11 September 1950.
He was featured in our May Newsletter, but in summary he was a South African statesman, military leader, and philosopher who held various military and cabinet posts.
He served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and 1939 to 1948.
He died of a heart attack on his family farm of Doornkloof, Irene, near Pretoria, shortly after celebrating his 80th birthday.
