SCHWIND, Davitt Jack
| Service Number: | 3803 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wodonga, Victoria, Australia, 7 January 1899 |
| Home Town: | Wodonga, Wodonga, Victoria |
| Schooling: | St Augustine's Convent School, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 8 August 1918, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Feb 1918: | Involvement Private, 3803, 46th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 1918: | Embarked Private, 3803, 46th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne |
Davitt Schwind
Davitt Jack Schwind was born to a German family in 1900. He was born and raised in Wodonga. His father, Joseph Schwind, died when Davitt was 12, and at his funeral, it is reported that Davitt fainted. Davitt applied many times to go to war, but was turned down on account of his height. When he had just turned 18, he left to fight, where he was killed just a few weeks later. Davitt's mother, Sarah Schwind (nee Ryan), never recovered and spent the rest of her days in mourning.
Submitted 22 July 2022 by u/singlestarfruitseed !
Biography contributed by Sam Black
Davitt (Davitt John William) Schwind was born on 7 January 1899 at Havelock St, Wodonga, Victoria. His father was Joseph (Joe) Schwind and his mother was Sara Schwind Ryan. He was educated at St Augustine's Convent School, Wodonga, with his elder sister, Bernadette.
After his father's death in 1912, he and his mother moved to Melbourne in about 1915. He enlisted in December 1917 as Davitt Jack Schwind at 18 years old. His residence was 303 Cardigan St, Carlton, as was his mother's.
A medical officer stated that he "can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service". He was 5ft 5in.
He embarked on the HMAT Nestor in February 1918 and sailed for Egypt, which was reached in March. Once in France, he was killed in August 1918. A witness stated: "I knew casualty. He was about 5ft. 7ins., well built, dark, 19 years of age. He was a 10th Rfcts. and embarked on the "Nestor". Casualty was in advance in front of Hamel when he was killed instantly by a machine gun bullet through the head. I saw his body as I passed by in advance. I do not know where he was buried."
He was buried in Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres.
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