His Name Was Jan: Kaare Westergaard (Denmark, 1961)


Figure 1.--Here Jan is receiving a book. The illustrator shows the short pants suit he wore as a boy.

We have noted a fascinating book by Kaare Westergaard. The author relates his own adventures in the city of Copenhagen. Jan himself liked the things all boys favoured. He went cycling, camping, swimming and played football with his friends. Above all, he enjoyed life and what it had to offer. His school life was filled with adventure and honest work.

The Author

Karre Westergaard was born in Bergen, Norway. He spent his boyhood in Denmark until he was 17-years-old when he moved to London. He studied at the International Training College and eventually became its Principal. Karre was a Lieut.-Commissioner in the Salvation Army and he worked in the interests of young people. He also spent three years as Chief secretary for Australia Southern Territory.

The Book

In His Name Was Jan, the author relates his own adventures in the city of Copenhagen. Jan himself liked the things all boys favoured. He went cycling, camping, swimming and played football with his friends. Above all, he enjoyed life and what it had to offer. His school life was filled with adventure and honest work.


Figure 2.--The cover shows Jan coming to England as a teenager.

Clothing

At the opening of chapter sixteen when Jan is eleven, he asks for permission to join the F.D.F., the popular boys’ brigade movement, as nearly all his pals were members. It had a smart uniform of light sailor blouse, blue shorts and cap with F.D.F. on the ribbon. In the next two pages we read how Jan’s father who is a member of the Salvation Army announces at the end of Sunday school that the Salvation Army should start a movement for boys. "Its purpose to foster a healthy soul in a healthy body." It would be known as the "F.H.D.K. short for Salvation Army Boys’ Brigade (in Danish)." The neat uniform comprised of blue jersey, showing a small shield-shaped badge, which bore the letters F.H.D.K. blue shorts and blue forage cap. (pp 76-77) On page 49, there is an illustration by Eric Winter showing Jan wearing a short trouser suit with knee-length socks and black shoes.

Sources

Westergaard, Karre. His Name Was Jan (Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, 1961).








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Created: July 2, 2003
Last updated: July 2, 2003