Commandant Jacob Louis van Deventer was born in Ficksburg in the Orange Free State on 18 July 1874.
He was a huge man and stood over 6 feet tall. He started his military career with the ZAR Artillery in 1896 and was at the first action of the Boer War, at Kraaipan, near Mafeking. He then served under General de la Rey at Modder River and Magersfontein.
Van Deventer was skilled at guerrilla tactics and fought in many such actions during the latter part of the South African War.
