“Advice has been received at New Plymouth of the death on active service in England of Sapper Oswald J. Jans, a member of the forestry detachment of the Second Echelon. Sapper Jans, who was 47 years of age, was unmarried. He was the second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. O. Jans, formerly well-known residents of the Stratford and Oakura districts. Sapper Jans also lived for some time at Oakura and Okato, but for the past ten years he had lived in the King Country, where he was engaged in contracting. Sapper Jans saw three years' service in the last war.” [Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 63, 11 September 1940, Page 7]

“On 6th February 1940 Oswald went to Taumaranui to sign his attestation papers for service in the 2nd NZEF.

A 35 year old single man he working as a farm hand for Mr MacKay, Mataroa. Oswald’s sister Mrs M (Mary Martha ) Newbold, Wanganui is noted as his next of kin.23441 Sapper Jans entered Military Camp on 14th February 1940 and sailed for overseas serve as part of the 11th Forestry Company, New Zealand Engineers.

The 11th Forestry Company was part of the 2nd Echelon that sailed for England to help defend the country from a potential German invasion. England’s source of lumber had been restricted by the German invasion of France and the Low Countries so when they arrived in Gourock, Scotland on 19th June 1940 the 11th Forestry Company was trained to Glocester and Wiltshire to set up logging and milling operations.

Sapper Jans was admitted to the civil hospital at Connaught on 25th July 1940 and transferred to the military hospital Royal Victoria, Netley on 5th August 1940 where he died on 7th September 1940 from Manic Depressive Psychosis.” [Source: https://www.poriruawarstories.com/jans-oswald-joseph, Accessed: 19/03/2023]