| Accession Number | P07478.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Digital file JPEG |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Lyell Keith Swann, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), of Keyneton, ...
Description
Studio portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Lyell Keith Swann, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), of Keyneton, SA. A bank clerk prior to enlistment, he was assigned the rank of Private and embarked from Adelaide with the 3rd Reinforcements, 43rd Battalion aboard HMAT Anchises on 28 August 1916. Later transferring to the 40th Battalion, Swann rose through the ranks to become a Sergeant (Sgt) by November 1916. While serving in France Sgt Swann was awarded the Military Medal on 16 August 1917. In January 1918 he was selected for training as a pilot with the AFC, joining the No. 1 Royal Flying Corps training school at Reading, England. He graduated on 30 July 1918 as a Flying Officer. While attached to No. 4 Squadron AFC, Lt Swann was taking off with a flight patrol on 14 November 1918 when his aircraft was seen to spin at about 300 feet and crash to the ground. He was taken to the 63rd Casualty Clearing Station, where he was found to have sustained serious injuries to his lower body and skull. Following an operation, his condition failed to improve and he died at 9.40 pm the same day, aged 23. He was buried at Ascq Communal Cemetery, France.