TOPIC:

I have acquired a QSA with clasps Cape Colony/Transvaal/Orange Free State and South Africa 1901 to 37756 Tpr. A. Jansen of French's Scouts, a unit I did not previously have a medal to.

I took a bit of a flyer here as, with a surname like that, there is every chance that the chap was a local, possibly of Dutch extraction but who fought on the British side. I was pleasantly surprised to find, on sourcing his papers, that he was an American! Additionally, and here thanks to the medals and nominal rolls on the site, his surname was actually Janson and he is of Scandinavian descent although born in the US.

The question begs to be asked - how traceable are these chaps? Were there direct voyages between the US and South Africa or did everyone have to come via the UK?

Regards

Rory

Good Morning Rory.....

There were a number of ships carrying horses and mules from USA, Argentina and Brazil and he could have hitched a ride or worked his way over......
Could have gone through Canada of UK......

Mike

Rank and file papers are in WO126/45-46 at Kew, from memory, they were actually disbanded at Middleburg on New Years Eve 1901.

Hi Rory

This is the entry:

Regards

Adrian

Alfred JANSON
Reg. no 37756
Religion: Prestb., Age: 27, Nationality: American, Trade: Tailor
Previous service: French Scouts 6 months
Height: 5 ft 9 , Weight: 168 lbs, Chest: 37,
Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Blue, Hair: Golden
Wife: Mrs M Janson, c/o Mrs Crammond, Glastonbury Rd, Kenilworth, Capetown
Enlisted: 22 Aug 1901 Greenpoint

Online transcripts are okay, but, they are subject, on occasion, to error and omission, I always prefer to have the actual paper in front of me before I'm satisfied.

Adrian123456 wrote: Hi Rory

This is the entry:

Regards

Adrian

Alfred JANSON
Reg. no 37756
Religion: Prestb., Age: 27, Nationality: American, Trade: Tailor
Previous service: French Scouts 6 months
Height: 5 ft 9 , Weight: 168 lbs, Chest: 37,
Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Blue, Hair: Golden
Wife: Mrs M Janson, c/o Mrs Crammond, Glastonbury Rd, Kenilworth, Capetown
Enlisted: 22 Aug 1901 Greenpoint

I quite agree Frank which is why I sourced the original through Kevin Asplin - see below - you never know if any detail has been omitted even unintentionally until you have sight of the real thing.