Swen Addvin Sandstrom

Swen Sandstrom (Service No 464) was born in Picton, N.S.W. around 1880.

Swen had served in South Africa as a trooper with N.S.W. Rifles, and as a Corporal with 3rd Imperial Bushmen during the Boer War and had been awarded the Queens Medal with 4 Bars. After he returned from South Africa he married Lena Clark and they had one child.

When Swen enlisted with the AIF he was 34 years of age and worked as a labourer.  Although Swen enlisted at Helena Vale, Western Australia, his wife Lena, his nominated next-of-kin, was living at Dapto, N.S.W. at the time.

Swen embarked from Melbourne on HMAT A40 Ceramic with E Company, 16th Battalion, on 22nd December 1914.  He had been promoted to Corporal on 1st October 1914, and then to Sergeant on 22nd December 1914.

The troops arrived in Egypt and after training were sent on to Gallipoli, arriving on 25th April. Swen was with 16th Battalion attacking Bloody Angle near Quinns Post on 2nd May 1915 when he was killed in action.

There is no known grave for Swen; he is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, and the Australian War Memorial.

In 1919 his wife Lena died of influenza in the global epidemic.