Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: John Swan
Ancestor's date of birth: 18/11/1876
Ancestor's date of death: 01/02/1954
Cause of Death: Age related
Service and Life Before the Boer War: At the time of enlistment he was a farmer. His NOK was described as living at Goulburn Weir Victoria.
Service Number: 1331
Colony or State of enlistment: VIC, Place of Enlistment: Melbourne
Unit: Left Wing 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1901
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 14/09/1916
Murray Page: 294
Contingent: Fifth Victorian
Ship: Orient, Argus, or City of Lincoln, Date of Sailing: 15/02/1901
Memorial details: VMR Memorial Melbourne.
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 clasps. 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: 173 cm tall, fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided
Details of service in war: March 1901 - March 1902 in east Transvaal and Natal frontier, including defeat at Wilmansrust where 18 killed and 42 wounded (12 June 1901), and successful intervention at Onverwacht (4 January 1902); heaviest casualties of any Australian contingent, at Wilmansrust suffered the costliest defeat.
Service and life after the Boer War: In 1914 he was listed as a horse driver. He enlisted in the AIF on 9 October 1914 as No 2493 Pte in 10th ASC Reserve Park. He served at Gallipoli then went to France. He was transfered to 26th Coy ASC 3 March 1916 and promoted Cpl on 3 May 1916. He was promoted to Sgt 14 September 1916. On 30 September 1917 he was reassigned to the 4th Divisional Train and posted to the training depot in England. He returned to France 1 June 1918 but as an original ANZAC was returned to Australia embarking 24 September 1918. He was discharged 24 January 1919.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Andrew Swan, Cheltenham VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Son
