Name
Tom Swain
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/02/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10343
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
R.E. FARM CEMETERY
I. A. 3.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Tom Swain was born in Baldock in 1893, the son of Frederick and Mary Swain, and was baptised on 21 May 1893 in Baldock.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Norton Street, Baldock where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. Although his parents and brothers Jim and John continued to live at Norton Street, Baldock in 1911, Tom was not listed with them, although it is known that prior to enlistment, Tom was employed by Heatly-Greshams in Letchworth, Herts.
Wartime Service
Tom enlisted in Hertford and joined the army in January 1914, serving with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 16 August 1914.
He was wounded in action in September of that year and sent back to England to recover in a London hospital after which he was returned to the Front and re-joined his unit.
He was killed in action on 26 February 1915, aged 22, and is buried in R E Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £6 1s 11d. Pension cards exist with his father as dependant but give no indication if a pension was awarded.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
