Hendrik Mentz
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Jan Smuts
Hendrik Mentz | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Lands and Irrigation | |
| In office 20 October 1915 – 8 February 1921 | |
| Prime Minister | Louis Botha (until 27 August 1919) Jan Smuts |
| Preceded by | Hendrik Schalk Theron |
| Succeeded by | Deneys Reitz |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 3 September 1919 – 29 June 1924 | |
| Prime Minister | Jan Smuts |
| Preceded by | Jan Smuts |
| Succeeded by | Frederic Creswell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 August 1877 Wittebergen, Bethlehem, Orange Free State |
| Died | 3 June 1938 (aged 60) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  South African Republic Union of South Africa |
| Years of service | 1899–1902 (Transvaal Commandos) 1914 –1915 (British Imperial Armies) |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War: –Colenso –Spioen kop First World War: –South-West Africa Campaign |
Hendrik Mentz DTD (8 August 1877 – 3 June 1938) was a South African Party lawyer, politician, soldier and South African Minister of Defence from 1919 to 1924.[1][2][3]
During the Second Boer War, Mentz fought under General Ben Viljoen in Natal, being involved in the siege of Ladysmith and the battles of Colenso and Spion Kop. At the end of the war he was serving as chief of staff to Assistant Commandant-General C. F. Beyers. Mentz was wounded three times during the war.[4][3]
Start of political career
After the war Mentz settled in Pietersburg, where he practised law and when the Transvaal Colony obtained responsible government in 1906 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a supporter of General Louis Botha. In 1910, with the formation of the Union of South Africa, he became the member of the House of Assembly for Soutpansberg.[4]
First World war
At the beginning of the First World War and during the German South West Africa Campaign, Mentz served under Brigadier General M. W. Myburgh, who were among the South African troops that occupied Windhoek. He was appointed military governor of Windhoek by Louis Botha, whereafter his brigade joined the final advance on the north, which culminated in the surrender of the Germans. It was also the end of his military career.[1]