Aubrey Walter (Swazz) Mead

Aubrey Walter (Swazz) Mead

Personal Information
Date of Birth	25 May 1883
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	16 May 1963, aged 79
Place of Death	Graylands Hospital, Claremont, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	33 years, 3 months
Description	5' 6¾" (1.70m) tall ; 134 lbs 60.781 kg ; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Timber worker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Robert Mead
Military Information
Reg Number	3193
Date of Enlistment	3 Sep 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 7th reinforcements, transferred to 2nd Pioneer battalion / 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	18 Jan 1916 ‒ 16 Feb 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A7 Medic
Date of Return	8 Aug 1918 ‒ 28 Sep 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Carpentaria
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Student at Jarrahdale Primary School 1895 - 1 Mar 1897. Electoral Roll entries - 1909 Preston Valley, labourer; 1913 No 6 Mill, Jarrahdale, mill hand; 1916 Whittaker's Mill, horse driver

War Service

In Egypt as part of the reorganisation of Australian forces, Aubrey was transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on 16 Mar 1916 at Moascar. Three days later he embarked with his unit on HMHS Llandovery Castle ( for Marseilles ,sailing the next day (20 Mar 1916), and arriving in Marseilles at 3:45pm on 25 Mar 1916. On the next day they departed Marseilles by train for Thiennes in northern France. On arrival they marched towards Hazebrouck and went into camp at Berguette.

By Jun 1916 Aubrey had racked up his first offence

Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, in that he failed to salute his superior officer. Awarded 3 days Field Punishment No.2, and forfeited 3 days pay.

Family history relates that it was a view that Swazz continued to hold towards rank and privilege for the rest of his days.

On 2 Feb 1918 Aubrey was seen by the 13th Australian Field Ambulance, before moving to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 4 & 5 Feb 1918 before being admitted on 5 Feb 1918 to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Boulogne with Trench fever. On the 8th he was evacuated to England on HMHS Cambria, and admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley the same day. Transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 15 Mar 1918. On 4 Apr 1918 he was granted furlough, and then as he was determined to be unfit to return to active duty, he was sent to No 2 Command Depot in Weymouth to await repatriation home.

While there on 8 Jul 1918 he was charged with another offence, this time for 'Being in unlawful possession of another soldier's pass'. he forfeited 5 days pay as penalty.

Discharged 5th Military District 30 Oct 1918.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1943 Jarrahdale, labourer / swamper; 1954 - 1958 Serpentine, pensioner

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial