Noel Francois Viljoen, veterinarian, was the son of W.J. Viljoen and his wife Wilhelmina. He served in the army in East Africa during World War I (1914-1918) and in 1925 qualified as a veterinarian (MRCVS) in Edinburgh. After returning to South Africa he became a member of the South African Veterinary Medical Association in 1928. He served as Government Veterinary Officer in the Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana) for a few years before being appointed as director of the Bloemfontein abattoir. During his 15 years in this position he obtained a DVSc degree from the University of South Africa in 1937 for a study entitled Cysticercosis in swine and bovines, with special reference to South African conditions. His thesis was also published in the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary science. His contributions to the Journal of the South African Veterinary Association included articles on two cases of Cisticerosis (1935), suggestions for its eradication (1939), and suggestions relating to the professional status of veterinary science in South Africa (1934).

After practicing for a number of years in the Eastern Cape Viljoen was employed by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in Johannesburg. He was survived by his wife, Marjorie Evelyn (formerly Beasley, born Richards), a son and a daughter.

List of sources:

Author and Subject Index to the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry (1933-1950) and the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research (1951-1968). Pretoria: Department of Agriculture, June 1969.

Google scholar. http://scholar.google.co.za/ , publications by N.F. Viljoen.

National Archives Repository (TAB), Source MHG, Vol. 0, Ref. 983/63: death notice, Noel Francois Viljoen.

Posthumus, P.J. Past veterinarians in South Africa (10th edition), Vol. 2, [1992].

Register of veterinarians of the Union of South Africa... Journal of the South African Veterinary Medical Association, 1929, Vol. 1(3), pp. 77-83.

Compiled by: D.W. Verwoerd

Last updated: 2026-02-12 10:26:36