John Ryberg (Jack) SWANSON

SWANSON, John Ryberg

Service Number: PA2185
Enlisted: 5 May 1941
Last Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Last Unit: Attached Royal Navy
Born: American River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 23 April 1922
Home Town: American River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Schooling: American River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Occupation: Fisherman
Died: Killed in Action, Indian Ocean, 4 March 1942, aged 19 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Plymouth Naval Memorial Plymouth, Plymouth Unitary Authority, Devon, England Panel 76 Col 1
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, American River War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Penneshaw Dudley District Hall Roll of Honour WW2, Penneshaw War Memorial, Plymouth Naval Memorial to the Missing / Lost at Sea
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World War 2 Service

5 May 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Ordinary Seaman, PA2185, HMAS Penguin (IV) 1939-1940/HMAS Brisbane 1940-1942/HMAS Moreton (I) 1942-1994 (Depot), Port Adelaide
5 May 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Seaman, PA2185
1 Jan 1942: Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Ordinary Seaman, PA2185, Attached Royal Navy, Malaya/Singapore, Attached Royal Navy HMS Anking. Sunk in a naval action in company with HMAS Yarra which attempted to screen the convoy against a Japanese Navy cruiser squadron.
Date unknown: Involvement

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Albin William Swanson & Ida Sophia nee Freeman.

Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Swanson, of American River, Kangaroo Island, have been notified that no news has been received of their twin son, Ordinary Seaman John Ryberg Swanson since the loss of HMS Anking, and the Naval Board presumed his death to nave occurred while on active service on March 4, 1942. The Anking was with the Yarra and other  ships bound for Fremantle from Batavia when they were met by strong enemy opposition. OS Swanson was born and educated at American River, and at the time of  his  enlistment was engaged in the fishing industry.

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