TOPIC:

For some 15 years I’ve been on the lookout for Boer war medals to Scandinavians. This is the current hold:

ATB,

Lars

Description/recipients will follow.

Hi Lars,
Thought i would include your photo of your wonderful collection to the Scandinavians in the main thread. Hope it is ok

I look forward to reading your posts on your collection. That's a terrific collection!

Time to begin:

Finn Atlanter Larsen.

In the late 1870s many Scandinavians emigrated, mostly by passenger boats and to the United States. Some chose other destinations.

In Norway in 1879, 47 persons planned to aquire, provision and sail a ship to establish a colony, based on the teachings of a christian Pietist movement, on the atoll Aldabra in the Indian Ocean. The schooner “Debora” (92 tons) departed Bergen July 19th, 1879 with the aim to sail over the Atlantic Ocean, rounding the Cape and arriving at Aldabra after a stop at Madagascar.

Among the passengers were the family of carpenter Fredrik Johan Larsen. Apart from Fredrik the family consisted of his wife Marie Elisabeth and their six children. On the trip, off the Spanish shores, .another son was born on the 11th of August. This son was christened Finn Atlanter Larsen.

Arriving at Madagascar, the expedition was dissolved, as many wanted to try their fortunes in Natal, South Africa, on hearing that the Zulu War had ended. Among the was the Larsen family, who were among the first Norwegian families arriving in Natal.

The family first lived in Durban, and later established a farm “Oribi Flats” in the Marburg area in the British crown colony Natal, where other Norwegians also had settled.

Two of the Larsen brothers, Sigvart and twin brother Emil, lived in Vryheid in the Transvaal Republic when the Boer War opened.The Boer forces had to give up Vryheid in 1900, the british taking over in September 1900. On 8th October the british declares that Sigvart Larsen, his English wife six months pregnant are “undesirables” and has to leave on an hours notice with a british convoy. At this time, at least two of his brothers served in the Durban Light Infantry.

The officer in charge was Lieutenant-Colonel Gawne, who later was killed in action at nearby Lancaster Hill on december 11th, 1900. The Larsens did not return to their home until after the Peace at Vereeniging in 1902.

In total four Larsen brothers served in the Durban Light Infantry (Thanks Cam for the info!):

Their details are
LARSEN C. Enlisted October 1894. Private ‘A’ Company, Durban Light Infantry (No128). Relief of Ladysmith and Transvaal operations. King Edward the Seventh Coronation contingent Great Britain , 02 (Medal). Discharged 31.12.04. Private, Durban Light Infantry, Zulu Rebellion 1906. This was probably Carl Larsen, born in 1878

LARSEN E.J. Enlisted April 1901. Private Durban Light Infantry (No963) Operations in Natal 1901-02. Still serving c04. Elias Johan Larsen, born 1885

LARSEN F.M. Enlisted February 02. Private Durban Light Infantry (No1025) Operations in Natal 1902. Still serving c04.
This is Finn Atlanter Larsen, born in 1879 in the atlantic ocean aboard sailing ship Debora.

LARSEN L. Enlisted February 1896. Private ‘A’ Company, Durban Light Infantry (No243) Relief of Ladysmith and Transvaal operations. Still serving c04. Probably Ludvig Larsen. Born in 1875.
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After the Boer War, Finn Atlanter was a farmer at Oribi Flats, owning the farm Fredheim. He also tried gold prospecting in the Barberton area. He remained a bachelor, and died on 28th November 1962 as a result of a motor accident. He is buried in Stellawood Cemetery, Durban.

Gustaf Edwardson, Kitchener's Fighting Scouts in the boer war

Trooper, 2nd Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts.

- Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps Transvaal and Orange Free State

Gustaf Edvardsson was born in Kålstorp, Svarteborg, Munkedal on 4th october 1882. He was the son of Edvard Christiansson, tenant farmer and his wife Augusta Andreasdotter. The family was large, Gustaf had three sisters and two brothers. The census of 1890 found them living at Skogsmyr Torp, serving Stackekärr stora in Svarteborg. The times were hard, and many swedes decide to migrate to alleviate the burden on their families and avoid famine and poverty.

Age 19 in 1900, he was a seaman ashore in South Africa, attesting for Kitcheners Fighting Scouts
"G" squadron, 2nd battallion. British authorities recruited heavily among sailors, some ships were left with the bridge officers.

When attesting he was about six feet, blue eyes and fair hair. He was slightly wounde in the action at Boschbult, Western Transvaal

After the war, he stayed in South Africa, married and had daughters. His affiliation with the sea continued, as he was owner of a small boat at the time of his death. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital with head pains and strange behaviour, where he died from a brain tumour some weeks after admittance, in 1946.