SWAN, Edward Coles
| Service Number: | 283943 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 June 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Aircraft / Repair / Salvage Depots |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 30 January 1916 |
| Home Town: | Malvern, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Unley High School and University of Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Medical Practitioner |
| Died: | Illness, Breddan, Queensland, Australia, 30 July 1945, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Charters Towers Cemetery, Qld War Cemetery Plot A. Row B. Grave 15 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 283943 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, Aircraft / Repair / Salvage Depots | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement | |
| Date unknown: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 283943, Aircraft / Repair / Salvage Depots |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Edward Coles Swan 283943 was a direct entry with the rank of Flight Lieutenant - Medical Officer
Son of the Reverend Edward Morris Swan and Grace Swan of Malvern, SA
Biography contributed by Annette Summers
SWAN Edward Coles MB BS
1916-1945
Edward Coles Swan was born, in Adelaide, on 30th January 1916. He was the son of the Reverend Edward Morris Swan and Grace Swan of 170 Fisher Street, Malvern SA. Swan was educated at Unley High School where he completed his Leaving examination, in 1932, undertaking two Leaving Honours years, in 1933 and 1934. He won a three-year scholarship, in 1933, for free tuition in a School of Mines diploma course. Swan went on to study science, from 1934 to 1935, and then studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1940. At the University of Adelaide, he obtained a Blue for baseball. He completed seven months of RMO experience at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1941.
Swan enlisted in the RAAF and was appointed a probationary flight lieutenant on 2nd February 1942. He was initially posted to No 1 RAAF Hospital at Laverton, Victoria, before moving to RAAF Pearce in Western Australia on 21st February 1942. He subsequently served at 4 Recruit Depot and 4 Recruiting Centre from 29th May 1942. He embarked, on medical escort duty, from Adelaide on 4th August 1943 on Denbighshire for the UK. He returned to Melbourne, Australia, on 31st December 1943. He served in other units in Australia before his death in 1945.
Edward Coles Swan died, of an undetermined cause, at the age of 29 years on 30th July 1945. A court of enquiry at Breddan, Queensland, on 30th July 1945, recorded that Swan had died at No13 Aircraft Repair Depot, Queensland and that the cause of death was poisoning by self-administered morphine tartrate administered through a wound on the left thigh. It was unclear of the contributory circumstances. He is buried in the UK, Commonwealth War Graves, at Charters Towers Monument and Lawn Cemetery, Charters Towers, Queensland, Plot A Row B Grave 15.
Source
Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2.
Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019.
Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD
Click images to start slideshow.