SWAIN, John Thomas
| Service Number: | 3943 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Maryborough, Victoria, Australia, 10 April 1894 |
| Home Town: | Maryborough, Central Goldfields, Victoria |
| Schooling: | St Augustines Roman Catholic School Maryborough, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Public Servant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 25 August 1918, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie V G 13, Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Blowhard & District Roll of Honor, Maryborough War Memorial, Melbourne Public Library and National Museum of Victoria Great War Honour Roll, Miners Rest War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 3943, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 3943, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Adelaide | |
| 25 Aug 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 3943, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3943 awm_unit: 8 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-08-25 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of John and Annie SWAIN
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of a machine gun in an attack. When the advance came under heavy fire from some pill boxes, he penetrated the barrage, and, getting his gun into action on a flank, silenced two of the enemy's machine guns, thereby enabling the line to advance and rush the position. Afterwards, when the enemy retired, he rushed forward ahead of the line and inflicted heavy casualties on them. He showed splendid courage and resource.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95
Date: 27 June 1918
CPL. J. T. SWAIN, D.C.M.
The Blowhard correspondent of the "Ballarat Courier" writes:-"In a recent list of honors published in the London "Gazette," the name of Cpl. J. T. Swain appears, Cpl. Swain having been awarded the D.C.M. He enlisted in July, 1915, was sent to Egypt, and thence transferred with the 38th Battalion to France. He participated in
the fighting on the Somme and the battle at Pozieres, and was wounded in April, 1917. He returned to duty, and was gassed in November, 1917, but remained with his battalion. Cpl. Swain
is 23 years old, and was educated at St. Augustine's, Maryborough, and at the time of enlistment was engaged at the Public Library, Swanston street, Melbourne. He is a son of Mr. Swain, of High street, Maryborough, and cousin of the late Private P. J. Shelton, of
the 14th Battalion, who was killed in action at Pozieres, and Private Con. F. Shelton, who died of meningitis. His relatives, Mr. Jno. and Miss A. Shaw, and Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Shelton, of Blowhard, are well known and respected resident of the Ascot and Blowhard districts, and the family have resided there for about 60 years. His grand
father (now deceased) was a well known farmer in these districts. The hearty congratulations of the community have been extended to his relatives in the distinguished honor won by Cpl. Swain in his devotion to duty.
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