Name
Josiah Swain
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/05/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18695
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIENNES BRITISH CEMETERY
Row A, Grave 11
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Weston, Not on the Stevenage Old Town memorials, Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Born in 1885 in Weston and baptised there on 1 November 1885. Son of William and Susanna Swain (née Bonfield), who had married in 1880.
In 1891 the family were living at Dane End, Hitchin. Present were both parents: William (33) and Susanna (35), with William working as an agricultural labourer. Their children were: James W (9), Josiah (5), Charlotte (2) and Sarah Bessi at six months. Also present was Charlotte Brown (65) and William’s mother-in-law. All recorded as born in Weston, Herts.
In 1901 the family still in Dane End. Present were both parents, William still an agricultural labourer. Of the above children James was absent, and new siblings were Percy Alfred (7), Jeremiah (2). Charlotte Brown was still present and recorded as a straw plaiter.
In 1911 the family remained at Dane End. Present were both parents, but Wiulliam was now a cowman on farm. The census recorded they had been married for 31 years with 8 children, of whom 3 had died. Children present were Josiah, now 25 and a farm labourer, Bessie, Alfred and Jeremiah. A granddaughter, Rosie Swain (11) was present.
Josiah married Annie Caroline Hemmings (b 21/11/1887) in 1911 after the census was taken. They had three children Florrie Violet Ena (b 11/1/1912), William Edward (b 15/4/1913) and Josiah Alfred (b 15/10/1915) – Florrie and Josiah were baptised in Weston.
Married Annie Hemmings in 1911. They had three children and later lived at 33 Letchmore Road, Stevenage. 1911 Census; living with family at Dane End, Weston and working as Farm Labourer.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was born in Weston, Herts. and was living in Hitchin when he enlisted in there. It is for this reason that he is also recorded against Hitchin, but it is possible that was not living there, and Hitchin may have been recorded as the nearest large town.
Wartime Service
Josiah landed in France on 2 October 1915 and in 1915 was slightly gassed.
He was wounded in the face on 21 November 1916, seriously enough to be returned to Blighty and he entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of the 6th July 1916.
He returned to France in 1917 and was drafted to Italy but returned to France after a few months.
Having written to his wife on the 27th, he was wounded again on 29 May 1916. This time in his left side and right thigh, when the battalion moved to the front line after training and died in a field hospital the following day.
He spent three and a half years in service.
Additional Information
After his death £14 0s 6d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Annie Caroline Swain, on 16 September 1918. Later a war gratuity of £15 10s was authorised to be paid to her on 21 November 1919.
His pension cards record Annie Caroline Swain, as his widow/father/mother and his next of kin/dependant, living at Dane End, Weston, Stevenage, Herts. It also records their children as Florrie Violet Ena (b 11/1/1912), William Edward (b 15/4/1913) and Josiah Alfred (b 15/10/1915). She was awarded a grant of £8 on 19 June 1918, and then a pension of 29s 7d a week from 9 December 1918, for her and their children.
Two brothers, [Percy] Alfred (22) and Jim (20) also died. Alfred died of wounds in France in 1916 and Jim died of fever in 1901 in Mafeking in the Boer War. (J Swain is among those named on the South African Campaign memorial in Bedford). His youngest brother was serving in Italy and Annie had a brother serving on the Western front.
Acknowledgments
Peter Handy, Brenda Palmer
