Schalk Willem Burger died on 5 December 1918 aged 66.
He saw service in the First Boer War of 1881, and by the time the South African War (1899-1902) commenced he was Commandant-General of forces in a number of battles which included Modder River and Spioen Kop.
During his life he was a South African military leader, lawyer and a politician, who, whilst Paul Kruger was in exile, served as acting President of the South African/Transvaal Republic from 1900 to 1902.
