Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eldest brother, Gordon, enlisted as a Motor Driver, Motor Transport
Division, 1st Australian General Hospital. By war’s end he had risen
to the rank of Lieutenant and in February 1917 he was “brought to
the notice of the Secretary of State for War (for) Valuable Services
rendered in connection with War.”
Gordon’s occupation upon enlistment was stated as secretary, and
he worked for The States Publishing Company, Franklin Street,
Adelaide. He received his discharge in England “for the purpose of
proceeding to Australia via America, in which latter country he
desires to study the process and make extensive purchases in
connection with off-set printing for his firm in Australia.”After
prolonged bureaucratic delays, Gordon collected his outstanding
pay of 135 pounds, 10 shillings and 9 pence and was technically
discharged in July 1919 which took effect in November. Like his
brothers, he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star Medal, the British
War Medal and the Victory Medal.
By 1922 Mr. and Mrs. Swann were living at Parkside where they
received a Memorial Scroll from the King and a Memorial Plaque
honouring Keith. In due course a photograph of their son’s
gravestone was provided including details of the precise location, a
courtesy which hoped to give some solace and closure.
The Swann boys, along with their Keyneton comrades at the front
were recipients of regular comfort parcels including socks knitted by
children of their former school, sent by the Keyneton Red Cross
Circle, established in March 1915 to sew clothing items and
coordinate local patriotic efforts.
Although the Swann family had moved to Jamestown in 1906, the
congregation of the Keyneton Congregational Church, all former
customers of the Swann’s store, keenly felt the family’s loss and
were equally proud of all the brothers whom they honoured on a
plaque of brass in the entrance porch of what is now, the Keyneton
Independent Chapel.
Source: The Brothers Swann – sons of the Keyneton General Store.
Courtesy of Carolyn Lillecrapp.