Name
Thomas Henry Swallow
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/08/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
G/10213
The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEACON CEMETERY, SAILLY-LAURETTE
Plot IV, Row C, Grave 15.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Leavesden Asylum/Hospital War Memorial, Leavesden
Pre War
Son of William or Thomas and the late Mary (nee STRADER) SWALLOW of Watford; husband of Ethel Mary/May (nee TAYLOR) SWALLOW.
His parents married 21 December 1873 at St Michael’s, St Alban’s, Herts. Mary died 1902 in Abbot’s Langley, Herts, aged 54, and was buried 4 November at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley. Thomas remarried 12 November 1904 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley, to Elizabeth FIELD; he died 1922 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 27 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1935 in Watford aged 74, and was buried 18 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Thomas was born 1888 in Abbot’s Langley, and baptised 20 January 1888 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley. He married first Edith Coming TYLER 1 April 1907 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley; they had two children. Edith died 1909 in Watford aged 23, and was buried 30 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery. Thomas remarried 15 October 1910 at Christ Church, Watford; they had five children. Ethel never remarried and died 1924 in the Edmonton, Middx, district aged 34.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Abbot’s Langley, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 13 he still lived in Abbot’s Langley, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a sugar stirrer at chocolate works aged 23, he lived in Watford, with his [second] wife and no children.
Wartime Service
He attested 30 May 1916 in Watford for Short Service (Duration of the War): a kitchen man aged 28 of Watford, 5’7″ tall. He served at Home from 30 May to 12 November 1916, during which time, on 7 October, he was fitted with dentures! He served in France 13 November 1916 to 11 March 1917 when he was sent to East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital aboard H.S. Princess Elizabeth suffering from nephritis. From 4 June to 6 July 1917 he was at a Field Auxiliary Hospital before serving in France again from 8 to 26 November 1917. On 26 November 1917 he was sent to the Military Hospital, Nottingham, aboard H.S. Warildo with a gun shot wound to the right arm. He was there until 7 December, and returned to France 5 April 1918, during which time he was appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal 28 May. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
