Research for Private R. Jansen Looking for more information about Private R. Jansen, Cape Corps, Regimental Number C167371 and survived the War. Any kind of Information is welcome. Many thanks, Patrick (Belgium).
Patte62, Why do you seek information on this Cape Corps soldier? I have assumed you refer to WW2, not WW1. My initial search found nothing on him, so I tried looking at the Cape Corps (which I have encountered before in research awhile ago). The first two web links give some context: Link: Cape Corps Veterans Associations to be launched - defenceWeb and more detailed: THE CAPE CORPS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR; Illustrated by works of art at the DITSONG: National Museum of Military History I then encountered a small surprise a Cape Corps soldier was buried in a Hanover cemetery, he had died on 28th January 1945. See: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2074884/j-miller/ Then another surprise, nearby was another East African soldier, from the African Pioneer Corps, who died 16/3/1945. See: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2074524/ivo-mponjole/ Cape Corps personnel did serve in North Africa and Italy, so some would have been taken prisoner and a number were POW after the battle of Sidi Rezegh. Only two are buried in Germany, none in Belgium (not a shock), one Cape Corps and one from a related unit in France north of Paris (alongside sixteen Resistance fighters - all died on the 27/8/1944) and two were buried in Italy before the Allied landings. I am not aware that any Cape Corps personnel during WW2 would have served in Belgium, nor being held as a POW there by the Germans. Over to you, apologies if this research is irrelevant.
Hi David, I've found his name and some other intel about this soldier and was interested in this Regiment who wasn't known by me. By a South-African friend who found his War Medal in South Africa, we've started an inquiry about this soldier, to know more about his life and wereabouts during WW2. Thats the purpose of my initial request.
Ah, understood. You may find this thread useful, especially the last post: South African records and Researching a South African Serviceman Have you tried the South African Journal of Military History? Which if my memory is correct is still publishing and may have a link to Stellenbosch University. There are few references to the journal here. I don't think we have many South African members here, so as the absence of replies suggests it may be best to try elsewhere. The journal's index is on: South African Military History Society - Journal page Their home page is: South African Military History Society - Title page which has a search function (which I have not tried). There is arena under Unit History here for South African forces and the site's simple search engine will return nearly twenty threads that refer to the Cape Corps. I have a contact who for a very reasonable fee accesses the SANDF Archives if needed.
