SWAN, David
| Service Number: | 1084 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 May 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia , 20 August 1895 |
| Home Town: | Balaklava, Wakefield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 5 November 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Balaklava WW1 & WW2 Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 10 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 1084, 27th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' |
|
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1084, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide |
SOLDIER'S MEMORIAL SERVICE
On December 21, 1916, another article was published in "The Wooroora Producer" as follows:
On Sunday evening there was a large congregation at the Church of Christ Balaklava, the occasion being a memorial service for the late Privates D. F. Swan and P. G. Pittaway, who were recently killed whilst on active service. The preacher was the pastor, Mr. Will Beiler. The service opened with the "Dead March," on the organ. Mr. O. H. Finlayson officiating. The Union Jack and the Australian flags were suspended over the platform, and upon the Union Jack which covered the reading desk were the colors of the battalion to which the deceased soldiers belonged. Mr. Beiler referred in appropriate and impressive words to the lives of the deceaseds and to their connection with the church. He expressed the deep sympathy which was felt with the parents and relatives of the soldiers, but their lives had been given for their country's sake. In the deepest bereavement there was that consoling knowledge that their lives had been sacrificed in the great fight for the preservation of Christianity, freedom, and civilisation. Than that, no sacrifice could be more heroic and noble. Miss Esther Curtis sang the well-known hymn, "He Died of a Broken Heart." which was a favorite with Private Swan. Mr. Beiler's evangelistic address was on the theme of the Christian Soldier. The choir rendered the anthem "What are These." Captain Gladman, was present in the congregation.
Contributors addition:
Private, Philip George PITTAWAY #171, 27th Battalion - KIA 5 Nov 1916, Somme, France, No known grave, 26yrs, Hometown Balaklava
Private, David Francis SWAN #1084, 27th Battalion - KIA 5 Nov 1916, Somme, France, No known grave, 21yrs, Hometown Balaklava
Submitted 1 August 2023 by Tanya Easterby
Biography contributed by Robert Kearney
Enlisted and served as David FRANCIS
"THE LATE PRIVATE D. F. SWAN.
Private David Francis Swan was 21 years of age, and born at Broken Hill. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Swan, of Balaklava, and enlisted on May 3, 1915. He left for the front on May 31. He was a carpenter by trade, fond of sport, and of a cheerful disposition. He served on Gallipoli, and from there went to Egypt. In March last he was transferred to France, where he was killed in action on November 5. He spent his 20th birthday in Egypt, and 21st in France." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 06 Jan 1917 (nla.gov.au)
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