Sen. Adolf Johannes De La Rey

Dolf was the son of "Groot Adriaan" de la Rey the first police commandant of Johannesburg. He started his fighting career at the age of 19 and took part in the repulsion of the Jameson Raid, helping to capture Dr. Jameson at Doornkop. In the South African War He and his brother-in-law Captured Sir Winston Churchill (then a war correspondent) near Escort during the Siege of Lady Smith. Later in the war he was appointed to the staff Gen.de la Rey who was a cousin of his father. It was there that he met General Smuts who became a life-long friend. He fought in the rebellion , under General Botha and in the South West African campaign, in the First World War and in the miners' strike on the reef in 1922. He held the rank of Commandant General at the end of his career.

His political career started in1924 when he was elected to the Transvaal Provincial Council. In 1942 and 1953 he served as chairman. In 1944 he was elected a Senator and remained in the Senate until the defeat of the United Party in 1948. In 1951 at the age of 76 he led the Torch Commando to Cape Town to protest against the removal of colored voters from the common voters roll.

He was the first police commandant of johannesburg