Sgt Jens Kristian Andersson
(1918 - 1993)
Profile
Sgt Jens Kristian Andersson was one of the Danish volunteers in the RAF. Initially trained for the SOE, he transferred to the RAF in late 1941.
Jens Kristian Andersson was born on 14 August 1918 in Hvidovre south of Copenhagen, to Walfred Amandus Andersson and Marie Frederikke Andersson (née Jensen). [1] Andersson’s father was born in Sweden, but had moved to Denmark where he worked at the F.L. Smith cement factory nearby in Valby.[2]
Andersson joined the merchant marine as an able seaman in the late 1930s. The details are not known, but the family listed him as being in England in November 1940.[3]
Trained for the SOE
In early 1941, Andersson was selected for training by the Special Operations Executive. In March 1941, he trained at the Special Training School 3 (S.T.S. 3) at Stodham Park, Liss, Hampshire, and later that month he continued training at the S.T.S. 21 at Arisaig House in Scotland. He had good evaluations.
This student has intelligence, a good character, is steady and reliable, a quiet industrious man. He takes a keen interest in all S.T.S. work and is conscientious, showing good progress in Signals, and Map Reading etc. fairly good on demolitions and very proficient at unarmed combat, games and boxing showing himself capable of taking punishment unflinchingly.[4]
Training continued at the S.T.S. 44 at Water Eaton Manor near Oxford. He left this training facility with good remarks on 21 July 1941 to join the Royal Air Force.[5]
Enlisting in the Royal Air Force
Andersson enlisted in the RAF in late—possibly November—1941 at the RAF Recruiting Office at Euston in London. At this point information on Andersson’s service in the RAF is scarce.[6]
In December 1942 his rank was Aircraftman 2nd Class (1394939) and his contact information is Block B, Room 7, RAF Ouston near Newcastle upon Tyne. He was later promoted to Sergeant.[7]
After the war Andersson remained in the United Kingdom. He had married Ethel May Thompson in 1943. [8] He died on 14 August 1993.[9]
Endnotes
[1] DNA: Parish register, Hvidovre sogn.
[2] DNA: 1925, 1930, 1940 Census of Denmark.
[3] DNA: 1940 Census of Denmark.
[4] TNA: HS 9/34/6. Report from Sgt. Cripps 29.3.41.
[5] TNA: HS 9/34/6.
[6] TNA: AIR 78.
[7] DNA: 10194 - Danske Råd i London, Rekrutteringskontoret, pk. 72, Air Ministry 1941-43.
[8] Ancestry: England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005.
[9] Ancestry: England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995.