S6342 Mounted
JACOB, Walter Swanton
| Service Number: | 1148 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 March 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Somerset, England, January 1878 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | 18 January 1954, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Lameroo Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1148, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1148, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 1148, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 23 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1148, 43rd Infantry Battalion, GSW left leg |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Walter Swanston Jacob was the son of Mrs. Annie Jacob and born in Somerset, England. Walter was a single 38-year-old farmer when he enlisted on 21 March 1916. He was assigned to the 43rd Battalion with the service number 1148 and was a private.
On June 9th, 1916, he embarked from South Australia on board HMAT A19 Afric. The journey through the Bight was cold and rough, causing sickness to 70% of the men. The land was first sighted at daybreak of June 13, and after passing through King George sound the boat anchored in Albany Harbour at 11:30 am, when coaling immediately commenced.
The first few days were spent in settling down in this new camp, which was one of about fifty similar designs located at Lark hill most of which were so fitted as to accommodate a completed battalion. Training hours were from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm on weekdays, and from 8.30 to 12.30 on Saturdays, with half’s-an-hour’s physical training before breakfast, this early parade was abandoned in October, on account of the approach of winter.
The early morning of November 25 was a repetition of June 9. For the purpose of the move, the battalion was divided into three parties, leaving Lark Hill camp in time to entrain at Amesbury station by 7.15, 9.15, and 10.15.
Jacob was wounded on 23 June 1917, in the left leg. This wound was severe and he was evacuated to England. However, after treatment he did not have sufficient power in his leg to return to duty and so the decision was made to return him to Australia for medical discharge in September 1917.
Walter Swanston Jacob disembarked and arrived home on 21 November 1917. he did a total service of 1 year and 261 days. He died on 18 January 1954 at the age of 80 and buried in Lameroo Cemetery, South Australia.