JH Olivier

Jan Hendrik Olivier (24 January 1848 - 30 May 1930) was a Boer general during the Second Boer War who was notable for being the main Boer commander at the Battle of Stormberg.

Early life His parents lived in the Burgersdorp area and later moved to Zastron. At the age of 15, he joined the Orange Free State border police. In 1865 he became a Field Cornet and fought in the Seqiti War. Later he worked with General De Wet in the eastern Free State and Brandwater Basin. After an argument with De Wet, he decided to join the Transvaal Army. On the way there, he was captured by the British forces on 3 July 1900 and was exiled to Ceylon with three of his sons as prisoners of war.

Post-War Life He was released from exile in 1902 and again became a member of the Legislative Assembly (Volksraad) for the Orange River Colony as well as a horse breeder before withdrawing from public life in 1910. He went to retire with his daughter at Rustenburg. He died during a visit to Volksrust and was buried there with military honours.