JOHANNESEN, Svend Antonius
| Service Number: | 3023 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 August 1916, Svend applied on the 28th August 1916 to join the AIF and was accepted into the 7/51st Battalion on the 2nd November 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Morke, Randers, Jutland, Denmark Europe, 8 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Pemberton, Manjimup, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Randers, Denmark Europe |
| Occupation: | Woodcutter, Engine driver |
| Died: | Respiratory failure, Pemberton, Western Australia, 13 August 1955, aged 62 years |
| Cemetery: |
Pemberton General Cemetery, Pemberton, Western Australia cemetery in Pemberton town, 324 kilometres south of the Capital Perth City. Part of Manjimup Shire. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3023, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Svend applied on the 28th August 1916 to join the AIF and was accepted into the 7/51st Battalion on the 2nd November 1916 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 3023, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Argyllshire, Fremantle | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 3023, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Apr 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 32nd Infantry Battalion, On the 6th April 1917 Svend's military record shows he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion | |
| 13 Oct 1917: | Wounded Private, 3023, Svend was returned to his unit from hospital on the 23rd December 1917 | |
| 1 Jun 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, 3023, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Svend boarded the SS Somali at Southampton England for return to Australia at port of Fremantle, Western Australia | |
| 8 Jul 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3023, 8th July 1919, Svend disembarked at Fremantle and marched down High street. | |
| 15 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 3023, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Svend was formally discharged from the 32nd Battalion |
Help us honour Svend Antonius Johannesen's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Anthony King
Svend Antonius Johannesen
Svend was born in Morke, Jutland, Denmark Europe on the 8/2/1893, one of 11 children with 5 brothers and 5 sisters.
Svend Immigrated to Australia on the 5th December 1910 aboard the SS Zieten, disembarking at Fremantle, Western Australia – His brother Johannes had immigrated to Australia in 1906 and Svend joined him at Waterous / Yarloop timber mills in south Western Australia. Svend worked in Yarloop for 2 years then moved further south to work in the timber mills at “Big Brook” (later named Pemberton).
Svend’s Brother Alexander immigrated to Australia around 1911 / 1912 and his brother Peter immigrated to Australia in April 1913 and joined Alex and Svend in the timber industry (his brother Johannes has passed away in 1912) In 1915 Svend moved to Kalgoorlie to work on the Wood lines that fed the Gold mines of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie.
Being of Danish descent, Svend, Peter and Alexander all signed up to fight on the Western front in WW1 – Svend applied for Australian citizenship on the 28th August 1916, and applied to join the AIF on the same day.
Svend became naturalised Australian citizen in September 1916 and was accepted into the 7/51st Battalion on the 2nd November 1916.
Svend enlisted from Kalgoorlie and joined the military camp at Blackboy Hill, near Greenmount Western Australia awaiting despatch to the Western front.
On the 9th November 1916 Svend embarked on the HMAT Argyllshire bound for Folkstone via Devenport Tasmania, disembarking 15th January 1917 in England.
In March 1917 Svend was transferred to Etaples Boulogne Sur-Mer camp near Calais France for training.
Svend was re-allotted to the 32nd Battalion on the 6th April 1917 (from the 51st) – the significant battles the 32nd were involved in during 1917 were Polygon wood and Ypres in September 1917. On the 13th October 1917 Svend was wounded (shot in the face) and was hospitalised until returning to his battalion in December 1917.
The 32nd was held in reserve in early 1918 and the 32nd participated in in August 1918 battle at Amiens pressing the retreating German’s through August and September 1918 – The 32nd participated with American divisions to attack the Hindenburg line across the top of the 6 kilometre long St. Quentin Canal tunnel.
The 32nd Battalion was demobilised on the 6th May 1919 and Svend returned to England. On the 1st June 1919 Svend boarded the SS Somali at Southampton England bound for Fremantle (Western Australia).
Svend disembarked 8th July 1919 at Fremantle and was officially discharged from the 32nd Battalion on the 15th August 1919.
Svend returned to Pemberton following the war years and worked in the Milling and timber industry, attaining an Engine drivers ticket to “drive” the G class locomotives used on the Mill railway systems around Pemberton to haul large Karri logs from the mill site to the timber mill for processing.
Svend married in 1926 to Ada Ladhams and had 7 children between 1927 and 1943.
For 35 years Svend lived peacefully in Pemberton, married, raised a family until his death on the 13th August 1955, aged 62 years. Svend is buried in the Pemberton community cemetery along with his wife Ada (died 8th August 1999 aged 92 years)
Click images to start slideshow.