S8954
SWANN, Victor Roy
| Service Number: | 195 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 August 1914, Morphettville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Keyneton, South Australia, 26 October 1889 |
| Home Town: | Jamestown, Northern Areas, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Prince Alfred College |
| Occupation: | Draper (menswear business owner) |
| Died: | Natural causes, Port Lincoln, South Australia, 24 September 1968, aged 78 years |
| Cemetery: |
Happy Valley Cemetery, Port Lincoln RSL Section |
| Memorials: | Jamestown Methodist Church WW1 Roll of Honor, Jamestown Soldier's Memorial Park Arch, Jamestown St James Anglican Church Stained Glass Windows and Turner Brothers Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 195, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Morphettville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Oct 1914: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 195, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' |
|
| 22 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 195, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Port Lincoln, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 195 | |
| 23 Feb 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
The Noble Eight - "Our Boys for the Front – God speed and a safe return”
Thank you to the works by Mrs Barbara I Parri (dec) and Mrs Kaye B Bottrall, from Jamestown, SA.
Colour-Sergeant W C (Claude) Burford (dec)
Private Colin Cameron (dec)
Private C A Tonquest (dec)
Lieutenant J J (Joe) Brooks
Private Jim Dawes
Private Stan Lambert
Private W G (Bill) Rosie
Private V R (Roy) Swann
First Party of Volunteers to join the AIF, after declaration of war with Germany 4 August 1914.
All these men served at Gallipoli and from there to Egypt and France. Three paid the supreme sacrifice and the remaining five men returned to Jamestown, South Australia.
Mentioned in the “Agriculturist & Review” newspaper – September 1914 (see picture) and 12/11/1914.
AU REVOIR 11 September 1914
“Our Boys for the Front – God speed and a safe return”
Local folk turned out enmasse on Monday morning, 7 September 1914, to give ‘Our Boys in Khaki’ a right royal send off. Almost the whole of the business places were closed until after the train, which bore our quota of heroes, had gone out of sight.
At about 9:30am residents of the town, of all ages, began to assemble at Victoria Square and about 10 o’clock the time fixed for the ceremony, there was a large and enthusiastic gathering including the school children. Willing workers had made the Square brighter with strings of bunting in which the grand old Union Jack predominated, whilst the band, under the leadership of Mr Barclay, enlivened the proceedings with a number of selections.
At 10:00am the Mayor Mr R E Humphris took his place on the trolly, and was accompanied by Ministers of Religion and other leading citizens with the soldiers for the front drawn up at the end as follows:-
Lieutenant J J (Joe) Brooks and Privates: V R (Roy) Swann, Jim Dawes, W G (Bill) Rosie, Colin Cameron and C A Tonquest with the B Squadron Australian Light Horse. Colonel Sergeant W C (Claude) Burford with the 12th Infantry and Private Stan Lambert with the 10th Infantry.
His worship said that they were gathered together for the purpose of saying goodbye to their boys who were going to Europe to help uphold the integrity and freedom of the Empire. They were boys of he good old Bull Dog Breed.
Lieutenant A D Mitchell, Officer Commander (OC) B Squadron 24th Light Horse, said he felt proud that the men from his squadron were going. The offer of Jamestown lads for the first contingent had been very pleasing and the boys had offered themselves with pleasure.
Other speeches and good wishes from Mr H Boucaut, Reverend W T Shapley and Reverend R A Adams. Cheers for the King and Empire, Joe and the other boys and Song of Australia.
The trolly was then commandeered for the ‘Boys in Khaki’ who were drawn by willing hands through the people, al of whom were eager to get close enough for a hearty handshake and a personal wish of good luck, so that progress was exceedingly slow until the Square was cleared. The band headed the march to the railway station playing ‘Songs of the Brave’.
At the station the boys met with right royal treatment until the train steamed out, when rousing cheers were again given in last efforts to cheer and strengthen the departing soldiers on their journey to honour.
Submitted 7 January 2015 by Julianne Ryan
Biography
Known as ‘Roy’.
b. 27/10/1889 at Keyneton, South Australia
(Sth Australian Birth record - Births 1842 - 1906 Book: 448 Page: 85 District: Ang.)
Father George Lomax SWANN - b. 24/3/1858 in Gumeracha, SA
(SA Births 1842 - 1906 Book: 13 Page: 496 District: Tal.)
(George's Father: George SWANN. Mother: Sarah REDMAN.)
Mother Alvenia (nee Treloar) - b. 15/11/1859 in Angaston, SA
(SA Births 1842 - 1906 Book: 18 Page: 139 District: Ang.)
(Alvenia’s Father James TRELOAR. Mother: Elizabeth JOHNS.)
George was in business at Jamestown 1909 to 1913.
Roy had a menswear business at Jamestown next to H. Medlin from 1912 (later in 1995 Black & White Café), until he enlisted in 1914 – as one of “The Noble Eight”, with the 3rd Light Horse. His father took charge of the business until Roy’s return.
Next of kin in service:
Eldest brother:
43 George ‘Gordon’ Swann b. 6/11/1885 in Angaston, SA
(Sth Austn Birth records - Births 1842 - 1906 Book: 363 Page: 265 District: Ang.)
Lieutenant - Australian Motor Transport Section
Returned to Australia and discharged from service on 17/11/1919
Youngest brother:
2156 Lyell ‘ Keith’ Swann b. 18/5/1895 Keyneton, SA
(Sth Austn Birth records - Births 1842 - 1906 Book: 564 Page: 368 District: Ang.)
20/6/1917 Awarded the Military Medal (for distinguished service on the battlefield in France)
Lieutenant - Australian Flying Corp
14/11/1918 died of wounds - paying the supreme sacrifice
buried in: Ascq Communal Cemetery (Row D, Grave No. 12), France
Cousin
20570 Dr Eric Swann b. 9/2/1899 Angaston SA
(Sth Austn Birth records - Births 1842 - 1906 Book: 635 Page: 437 District: Ang.)
Father : John Edward SWANN. Mother: Mary Jane HOLMES.
of Jamestown 1925-1946
Served with the Australian Army Medical Corp (AAMC)
Returned to Australia 17/3/1919
Previous service:
3 years 17th Australian Light Horse
Victor was one of the first to enlist from Jamestown – in August 1914 with “the Noble Eight” as a Private.
Described on enlisting as 25 years 10 months old; single; 5' 5"tall; 127 lbs; healthy
complexion; grey eyes; light hair; Methodist.
28/8/1914 Enlisted at Morphettville
completed medical - fit for service
25/9/1914 Commanding Officer appointed Roy to
A Squadron, 3rd Light Horse Regiment
22/10/1914 Embarked from Outer Harbour, Pt Adelaide on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln
as a Private with the 3rd Light Horse, A Squadron
10/12/1914 Maadi base camp
31/1/1915 Heliopolos camp
9/5/1915 proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces, Gallipoli
12/5/1915 Gallipoli camp
He saw service in Gallipoli, Egypt and France.
10/10/1915 Appointed Lance Corporal
20/12/1915 disembarked off of HT Karoola, from Gallipoli into Alexandria
29/12/1915 joined Western Frontier Forces
26/1/1916 Promoted to Sergeant, 3rd Light Horse Regiment
4/7/1916 Staff Quarter Master Sergeant, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Romain
24/9/1916 Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant, 3rd Light Horse Regiment
10/7/1917 to rest camp, Shalith
20/7/1917 rejoined unit
20/3/1918 To Cadet School, Zeiuton - in the field
15/6/1918 Appointed 2nd Lieutenant
22/6/1918 marched out to Moascar
joined Cadet School in Moascar
1/7/1918 marched out to 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Moascar
29/9/1918 sick to hospital in the field
30/9/1918 admitted to Anzac Hospital, Jericho
1/10/1918 admitted to 34th ___ Hospital, Jerusaleum - with Malaria
2/10/1918 admitted to 34th Stationary Hospital, Egyptian Expeditionary Forces
8/10/1918 admitted to 24th Stationary Hospital, Kantara
9/10/1918 detached to duty, joined 1st Light Horse Regiment, Moascar
11/10/1918 marched out to rest camp
21/10/1918 marched in from rest camp, Moascar
27/10/1918 marched out to 3rd Light Horse Regiment
5/11/1918 marched in from Moascar in the field
The War Office granted a request from Australia that “The Anzacs” who had served continuously from 1914-1918 be given 3 months leave, and allowed to return to Australia for that period
Victor was one of the first Anzacs to return home to Australia and before his leave expired, Peace terms (the Armistice) were started and were finalised, which meant the Anzacs on leave did not return to France.
15/11/1918 Embarked on board HT Port Darwin for return to Australia (on 1914 leave),
ex Suez, Egypt
23/2/1919 discharged from service
Medals:
WWI 1914-15 Star (2226); British War medal (623); Victory medal (624).
On his return from the war, Roy married at the age of 29, to Clarice Edna Skippen, a sister of Mrs Lester M W Judell of Jamestown. The sisters had come from Inverell in NSW.
Roy and Clarice had a family of 3 children:-
Robert (died in the Middle East in the Airforce – WWII)
John (a jeweller living in Adelaide)
Beth (lived interstate)
Roy sold his Jamestown menswear business in 1922 and purchased a Clothing Store in Rundle Street, Adelaide. He went to Port Lincoln in 1937 and took over the Menswear business from Piercy in 1938.
In 1955 Don Spry joined him on the understanding that Spry would have first option when Swann wished to retire – in 1960 Spry took over the shop. The shop was also the start of the sons jewellery business (both sons had this trade).
24/9/1968 Roy passed away at the Port Lincoln Hospital
buried in: RSL section at Happy Valley Cemetery, Port Lincoln SA
Headstone inscriptions:
195 Lieutenant V R Swann
3rd Light Horse
Husband of Clarice
Father of Robert, John and Beth
“Lest we forget”
Thank you to Mrs Barbara I Parri (dec) and Mrs Kaye B Bottrall, from Jamestown SA, for
their research.
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 6/1/2015. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.