SWANSON, Frank Andrew
| Service Numbers: | SX11951, T27329 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Bowmans, South Australia, 16 December 1906 |
| Home Town: | Bowmans, Wakefield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Bowmans Public School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of Illness (POW of Japan), Camp 2, Pakan Banoe, Sumatra, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies, 24 July 1945, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Jakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia Plot 19, Row F Section 2, Jakarta War Cemetery, Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Balaklava WW1 & WW2 Honour Roll, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Port Wakefield Bowmans Methodist Church & District WW2 Roll of Honour, Port Wakefield Roll of Honour WW2 |
World War 2 Service
| 24 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX11951 | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Private, SX11951, Wayville, South Australia | |
| 25 Mar 1941: | Involvement T27329 | |
| 25 Mar 1941: | Involvement Private, SX11951 | |
| 3 Sep 1941: | Embarked Private, SX11951, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion | |
| 7 Mar 1942: | Imprisoned Australia's Northern Periphery, "Blackforce" Captured in Batavia, Sumatra - later transfered to Pakan Baroe, Sumatra | |
| 24 Jul 1945: | Involvement Private, SX11951, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, Prisoners of War, "Blackforce" |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Margo Barr
Battle of Java (1942)
"The Battle of Java (Invasion of Java, Operation J) was a battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. It occurred on the island of Java from 28 February – 12 March 1942. It involved forces from the Empire of Japan, which invaded on 28 February 1942, and Allied personnel. Allied commanders signed a formal surrender at Japanese headquarters at Bandung on 12 March.
The Australian formation — named "Blackforce" after its commander, Brigadier Arthur Blackburn V.C. — included the Australian 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, the Australian 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, a company from the Royal Australian Engineers, a platoon from the 2/1st Headquarters Guard Battalion,[9] about 100 reinforcements diverted en route to Singapore, a handful of soldiers who had escaped from Singapore following its fall to the Japanese, two transport companies, a casualty clearing station, and a company headquarters unit. Blackburn decided to re-organise his troops as an infantry brigade. They were well equipped in terms of Bren guns, light armoured cars, and trucks, but they had few rifles, sub-machine guns, anti-tank rifles, mortars, grenades, radio equipment or Bren gun carriers. Blackburn managed to assemble an HQ staff and three infantry battalions based on the 2/3rd Machine Gun, the 2/2nd Pioneers, and a mixed "Reserve Group". - SOURCE (en.wikipedia.org)
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