Beyers, Christiaan Frederik (C F)

Drowned in the Vaal River (in flood) while trying to swim his horse across after Botha scattered his rebel force near Rustenburg; refused to surrender and became entangled in his greatcoat.

Not on the main ROH (rebel leader death). Armstrong, Grey Steel: former Commandant-General of the Defence Force; with Jopie Fourie at the Pretoria Opera House Kruger’s-birthday riot; went into open revolt with Kemp; trapped in a bend of the flooded Vaal while fleeing west to join Maritz, and drowned entangled in his greatcoat. Date commonly 8 Dec 1914 (Armstrong does not print the calendar day). Later medical accounts sometimes prefer heart failure in cold water rather than drowning — Armstrong’s narrative is the drowning version; conflict noted, not resolved here.