Norman Manson Swanson.

1891-1961

Father Nm: Ebenezer Swanson 1859

Mother Nm: Matilda Blencowe [8439] born 15.12.1861 Ararat Victoria died 1942 Donald, Victoria

Oldest Known Ancestor-Thomas Blencowe 1475 Marston St Lawrence.

Marriage Dt:1928 Alma Cooper, Victoria.

Kin comments: Brother John Blencowe Swanson changed his age to go to WW2. Army SN NX72292

Born 1891 Terang, Victoria.

WW1

Norman Mason Swanson, Terang VIC, Corporal, 2448, Australian Infantry AIF 23^rd Bn.

Blencowe men who served with the 23rd Battalion,

1. Blencowe Sidney, 1882, Bicester, Private, 5553, Australian Infantry 23^rd Bn. 1917
2. Clarence George Blencowe, 1879, Victoria, Sergeant, 6764A,23^rd Bn. Aust.Infantry. 1917-18
3. Blencowe (William Henry) Billy. 1865, Thebarton, South Australia, Private, 1664, 21^st & 23^rd Bn. AIF. 1915.

1915

• 16th Jul. Attested Terang Victoria.
• 29th Sept. Embarked Melbourne on RMS Osterley was an acting Corporal on embarkation. Joined 23rd Battalion in Egypt. The 23rd Bn. was part of the 6th Bde, 2nd Div AIF

1916

• 11 Jan. Taken on strength at Tel-el-Kebir Egypt.
• 19 Mar. Embarked at Alexandria for Europe, Landed Marseille. The Bn. was entrained in three trains to Wittes southwest of Hazebrouck.

  

• 1-4 July. In the trenches at Rue Bois. Casualties 4 men killed.
• 20-26 Jul. Lealvillers in reserve for the attack began on 23rd July. Moved up to relieve on the 26th July.

  

• 27-29 Jul. Battle for Pozieres.

  

  The attack on Pozieres by Australian 1st Div. started on the 23rd July and the village itself was captured on the 23rd however the fighting was bitter and the 1st Div. was relieved by the 2nd Div including the 23rd Bn. The 2 Div. resumed attacks on Pozieres Heights and on the 28th the Bn. suffered great losses in this struggle in all 65 men recorded as killed between the 27th and 29th and wounded approx 268. Good description and maps here

• 22-23 Aug. Pozieres. After a spell at Bertincourt, the 23rd  Bn. were returned to the front line facing Moquet Farm north of Pozieres. On the 22nd and 23rd, the Bn suffered a lot of Casualties as they first relieved 1st Bn. AIF and then pushed forward their trench position by digging it out. 13 men KIA on the 22nd and 11 men KIA on the 23rd.
• 11 Nov. Suffering from Trench Feet Norman is sent to England with what appears to have been the most severe case of the disease.

  

  

  • 11 Nov. Admitted to 7th Ambulance train then 38th Casualty Clearing Station with Trench Feet and then onto 5th Australian Field Hospital 13 Nov. Rouen
• 14 Nov. Invalided to England admitted to 1st Birmingham War Hospital.
• 15 Nov-11 Apr 1917 Birmingham War Hospital.

  

1917

• 11 Apr. Transferred to 3rd Australian Aux Hospital Dartford.

  

• 2 May. Sent to No 2 Com Depot for Convalescence.
• 17 May. Discharged to Depot at Weymouth.
• 15 June to 31 Aug Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford and spent 78 days there.
• Sept. Discharged to No 4 Depot Codford and then-No 2 Weymouth before being transferred to Overseas training Bde.
• 2 Nov. Embarked for France and on the 17th November joined his battalion after one year absent.
  

1918

• 3-9 Feb. Granted leave to Paris.

  

• 4-6 July Attack on Hamel
• 4 Jul. The Bn. (in conjunction with 21st and 25th Bn.) and part of a much larger AIF force attacked the enemy trenches towards Hamel. The 21st faced light opposition but the 23rd faced much stiffer resistance.  The 23rd used two tanks to assist in rounding up 80-90 POW’s as the two lines of objectives were reached. Casualties 10 KIA and 65 Wounded as per War Diary. The Hamel confrontation was described as a brilliant success. In two hours, all objectives were obtained, and 1,400 German prisoners were captured, as well as many weapons. Australian troops suffered 1,062 casualties, with 800 killed. From Wikipedia;”The 25th, however, fared the worst. Due to their exposed position on the right of the Australian line,  losing almost two entire platoons as German machine-gun positions cut through their ranks. As the Germans launched a counter-attack, the tanks were instrumental in breaking the German will for further counter-attacks, aggressively pushing 1,100 yards (1,000 m) beyond the Allied line, moving into Accroche Wood to harass the German rear during the second phase of the attack.^“
• 27 Jul. 1 Company of American troops from the 129th Infantry was attached to the battalion, 50 men per Platoon. This is part of the induction of the troops to the war front.

  

• 7 Aug. WD states the Bn. ordered to be ready for an attack as troops and equipment are amassed east of Villers Brettoneux. Enemy observes and shell Tank Park in the rear of Bde HQ destroying 15 supply tanks. This was to be the all AIF Bde attack on the 8th which it seems the Bn. did not have many parts in.
  Then the enemy shell Coy C Signals office killing 3 signallers and destroying phone equipment. Note CWGC records 4 deaths for this day.
• 27 Aug. Moved forward from Froissy to Cappy
• 28 Aug.
  Bn. ordered to relieve 21st Bn. and move from Cappy to near Herbecourt.. The Bn. to support the 7th Bde AIF in capturing Herbecourt. ‘A’ Coy attached to 21st Bn. at Nameless Wood and ordered to carry out the mopping up of the village of Frise. One man was reported killed (CWGC).
• 30 Aug-1st Sept. Attack on Mont St Quentin.
  
  • The 23rd moved on the 30th Aug to the front of the village of Biaches then through the village of Halles and on 31st in front of Mont St Quentin.
  • 1 Sept. The attack takes place.

    

  • From Wikipedia; “Australians of the Second Division crossed to the north bank of the Somme River on the evening of 30 August. At 5 am on 31 August 1918, supported by artillery, two significantly undermanned Australian battalions, charged up Mont St Quentin ordered by Monash to ‘scream like bushrangers’. The Germans quickly surrendered and the Australians continued to the main German trench line. In the rear, other Australians crossed the Somme by a bridge that Australian engineers had saved and repaired. The Australians were unable to hold their gains on Mont St Quentin and German reserves regained the crest. However, the Australians held on just below the summit and the next day it was recaptured and firmly held. On that day also, 1 September 1918, Australian forces broke into Péronne and took most of the town. The next day it completely fell into Australian hands. In three days the Australians endured 3000 casualties but ensured a general German withdrawal eastwards back to the Hindenburg Line. The Battalion was awarded a Victoria Cross in this action.
• No. 6939 Pte. Robert Mactier, late 23rd Bn., A.I.F.From Wikipedia. ‘For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the morning of the 1st September 1918, during the attack on the village of Mt. St. Quentin. Prior to the advance of the battalion, it was necessary to clear up several enemy strong points close to our line. This the bombing patrols sent forward failed to effect, and the battalion was unable to move. Private Mactier, single-handed, and in daylight, thereupon jumped out of the trench, rushed past the block, closed with and killed the machine gun garrison of eight men with his revolver and bombs, and threw the enemy machine gun over the parapet. Then, rushing forward about 20 yards, he jumped into another strong point held by a garrison of six men, who immediately surrendered. Continuing to the next block through the trench, he disposed of an enemy machine gun which had been enfilading our flank advancing troops and was then killed by another machine gun at close range. It was entirely due to this exceptional valour and determination of Private Mactier that the battalion was able to move on to its “jumping off” trench and carry out the successful operation of capturing the village of Mt. St. Quentin a few hours later.’
• Bn. Casualties from CWGC. 39 men Killed between 30th August – 4th September 1918.
• Sept. The Bn spent the balance of the month at rest.
• 4th Oct. Attack on Beautevoir. The Bn. positioned some 20km north of their last battle at Mount St Quentin at Wiancourt. Part of a general 6th Brigade attack the 22nd Bn. taking the brunt of the German resistance. The Objectives were not attained and the line was held as per the map below.
  • 5 Oct. The Bn. held its position until it was relieved on the 6th of October.
  • The Bn. suffered just 5 men killed in this attack compared to 22nd Bn. who lost 19 men.
• 11 Nov. The Armistice found the battalion 100km behind the front just outside Amiens at Vaux-en-Amienois.
• 2-12 Dec. On leave to the UK.
• 23 Dec. Rejoined battalion and is promoted to Temp. Sergeant
• 15 Dec. Norman’s mother Matilda receives the notification of his award this day.

1919

• 13 Apr. Embarks for Australia.

Sources

1. Service Records Norman Swanson
2. War Diary of the 23rd Battalion AIF
3. War Diary of the 6th Brigade AIF
4. The AIF in France
5. Official History of AIF
6. Pozieres 1916

Medals

After The war

1937-39 Electoral roll.

Norman a Barman with Alma his spouse in the district of Donald.. Mother Matilda and brother John B. also at the same address

1942-46 Electoral roll.

Swanson, Alma, Royal George Hotel, Woods st., Donald, h. d., F
1497 Swanson, Norman Manson, Royal George Hotel., Woods St., Donald. hotelkeeper., M

Death 22 October 1961

Buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

GALLERY

Died: 1961 Surrey Hills, Victoria.
Age: 70 years.