Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John William Christopher Swan was born in Uraidla, a small town in the Adelaide Hills South Australia, 1896. He was a follower of the Church of England. Frederick William Swan was his father, also from Uraidla, South Australia. John William Christopher Swan enlisted on the 22nd January 1917 and was given the service number 3716.

Before the war

He attended Norton Summit Uraidla Methodist Sunday School, which he was awarded the honour roll, which means he was smart and a good student. His occupation before being enlisted was a gardener. He had served 3 years in the Senior Cadets prior to the war. He was 21 years old when embarking and he was 5’10 and 148 lbs which was around the average height and weight of a soldier in that time. He was single when he was enlisted in the army so his next of kin was his father Frederick William Swan.

During the war

John William Christopher Swan enlisted on the 22nd January in 1917. Enlisted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, SN 3716, 43rd Infantry Battalion. He passed his medical the same day he was enlisted and then arrived at the camp. He travelled from Sydney to Liverpool on the H.M.A.T. A16 Port Melbourne, disembarking on the 16th December 1917. The H.M.A.T. A16 Port Melbourne weighed 9,152 tons with an average cruise speed of 13.5 knots or 25.00 kmph.

He was promoted to Acting Lance Corporal (30.10.17) Proceeded overseas to France to reenforce the 43rd Battalion at Allames in France (18.12.17).

He marched out with the unit (20.12.17). The unit diaries provide the following detail:

On 27.12.17 out on operation. The artillery was quiet. Machine Gun fired on Paradise Road. The enemy operations – 50 rounds 5.9 fired on back areas, usual bursts, Trench Mortars quiet. They reported that enemy planes flew low over our lines. Parties were seen at various times during the day. On 28.12.17 they were responsible of using 8 kgs of artillery. The machine gun fired on Paradise Road again. The operation at night were hindered by the brightness of the moon. Several of our own planes flew over.

In January 1918 Swan was detached to the 11th Australian Trench Mortar Battery for duty as a Lance Corporal. In March 1918 he was taken on strength to the 11th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery.

He was admitted to Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, England suffering from influenza 6/11/18, and was given transfusion of blood (donor) 8/11/18.  He was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital 21/11/18.

During his repatriation back to Australia after the war he committed an offense at sea. On 21/11/19 John William Christopher Swan neglected to obey orders, award reduced to rank of Lance Corporal 9.12.19.

After the War

John William Christopher commenced return to Australia on board HT Nestor 1 November 1919. He disembarked Adelaide 12 December 1919. He was discharged in Adelaide 20 January 1920. He was awarded three medals during his enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force, they were the Star Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The 1914–15 Star is a campaign medal of the British Empire which was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of the First World War against the Central European Powers during 1914 and 1915. Instituted in September 1919, the Victory Medal was issued for service in an active theatre of military operations between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was one of a number of First World War campaign medals awarded.