Jansson, PTE George Henrik

Private George Henrik Jansson (1889-1923), butcher, chaffcutter and soldier, was born near Stockholm, Sweden, son of Karl and Katharin Jansson. He grew up in the small island town of Blido, 60km northeast of Stockholm. Not much is known about Jansson’s early life. On the 11th of November 1911, at the age of 22, Jansson migrated to Western Australia alone and settled in the wheatbelt town of Northam. He immediately began work as a chaff cutter and became a prominent member of the local community. He also worked as a baker and resided in a hotel.

In April 1916, Jansson became a citizen of Australia, after having lived here for four and a half years. George Henrik Jansson enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 5th of February 1917 at the age of 27 and was posted to the 8th Reinforcements, 44th Battalion. He embarked for overseas service in June 1917 and arrived at the front lines in December 1917. Private Jansson took part in many of the battles of 1918 until he was shot in the leg on the 8th of September 1918. By the time he recovered, the war was over.

During the war, Private Jansson fought in 6 battles and spent 258 days in the trenches. He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Wound Stripe, Active Service Badge, 1 Good Conduct Stripe and 1 Long Service Stripe.

After the war, Jansson returned to Northam and continued working. He suffered from heart problems in the early 1920s and at the beginning of 1923, he spent 6 weeks recovering in hospital. On the 28th of June 1923, whilst Jansson was engaged in a clearing contract near Toodyay with a mate, he collapsed and died immediately due to heart problems. He was 34 years old. The community turned out for his funeral at Northam cemetery, with former veterans burying him with full military honours. Also present was the local RSL, church and Chaffcutters’ Union.

Sources

National Archives of Australia

The Northam Advertiser, 30/06/1923, P.2