By the time De Villiers was a Sergeant in 1923, the Columbian Civil War was underway after the 13 June Coup and the subsequent Trial and execution of Alexander III. Sergeant De Villiers decided he would side with the monarchists after witnessing some of the horrid war-crimes led by the Republicans. Within days of agreeing to fight with the monarchists, he commissioned to the officer rank of First Lieutenant and was placed in charge of an infantry platoon outside of Vancouver.