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Janson (Jansen) is, I suppose, a typical example of a late 19th Century man. Lured to America as were so many European migrants with the promise of a new start, he headed for South Africa to fight for the British, to whom he owed no allegiance.

Alfred Janson

Trooper, French’s Scouts

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901 to 37756 Tpr. A. Jansen, French’s Scts.

Alfred Janson wasn’t your typical colonial volunteer in fact he wasn’t a colonial man at all (in the African sense); he was an American national born in Sweden. According to the Illinois Northern Districts Naturalisation Records he was resident at 177 Larrabee Street on October 22, 1892 when he was granted naturalisation in the U.S.A.

His saga starts with his departure from Goteborg (Gothenburg) in Sweden on 29 September 1899 aboard the “Ariosto” bound for Hull in England. His birth place on the ship’s manifest is stated as America (USA). What was he doing in Sweden? He was more than likely paying a visit to relatives there.

Having arrived in England and after a short wait he boarded the “Oceanic” on 4 October 1899 bound for New York sailing from Liverpool. Janson would have reached home to learn that the Boer War was underway and, possibly thirsting for adventure, made his way to South Africa in the next 12 months.

On 11 December 1900, having arrived in Cape Town, he volunteered for the first time and was assigned no. 20566 serving until the expiry of his 6 month term on 1 July 1901; and on the second occasion he volunteered, the no. 37756. It is with his second stint that we concern ourselves for it is these papers that have survived.

Aged 27 he enlisted at Greenpoint in Cape Town on 22 August 1901. Physically he was 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height, weighed 168 pounds and had fair hair, blue eyes and golden coloured hair betraying his Scandinavian heritage. A Tailor by trade Janson was also a Presbyterian by way of religious affiliation and, a married man, he seems to have brought his wife with him to South Africa for it was she, resident c/o Mrs Crammond of Glastonbury Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town, who was his next of kin.

The Scouts were operational in both the Orange Free State and Transvaal Republics involved in the broad sweeping movements employed by their namesake, General French, to squeeze the ever diminishing number of Boers into a corner and thereafter surrender.

Once it was felt that their services there were no longer required they were sent to the Cape Colony where some Boer Generals were concentrating their efforts on getting a portion of the Cape Dutch population who were under British rule, to come out on their side. It was here in August 1901, near Bethesda where a party of 50 of French’s Scouts were proceeding to join a column when they were surrounded in the hills by a superior force under Theron and surrendered. One was killed and three were wounded.

It was not known if Janson played any part in this incident but it does illustrate the fact that they were in contact situations with the enemy.

For his efforts in the war he was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901.

Rory,

Excellent and great pictures too!