RICHARD JOHN SWAIN
Richard John
Born 1886
Baptised 27 Sep 1886 Stoke St Mary
Father: Richard John Swain,
born 1851, baptised 2 Nov 1851, Isle Brewers
Died 1917
Mother: Sarah Ann ?, born 1852 Corfe
Died 1947
1881 – Henlade
1891 – Stoke Hill, Stoke St Mary
Family lived on Stoke Hill between 1888 and 1899.
Father was an Agricultural Labourer
1901 Living at 31 Alma Street, Father was working at the Water Works, Richard was an Errand Boy
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Florence Elizabeth Born 1877 Creech St Michael
Dorcus Ellen Born 1879 Staplegrove
Lydia Mary Born 1880 Taunton
Beatrice Melora Born 1882 Ruishton
Letty Bertha Born 1883 Ruishton
Dorcas Martha Born 12 Jul 1884 Baptised 25 Jul 1884 Stoke St Mary
Richard John Born 1886 Baptised 27 Sep 1886 Stoke St Mary
Christopher Edward Born 1889 Stoke St Mary
By 1911 Richard had joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
Private, 8612, 2nd Battalion
The 2nd Battalion DCLI arrived in Hong Kong on 13th June 1913, it was considered a plum posting and with only one infantry battalion stationed there at any one time, few officers or soldiers had ever a chance to see. There was plenty of sport albeit limited to inter company events. On the 21st Sept. 1914 the 2nd Battalion embarked in the troopship HT Nile bound for England, they landed at Devonport and moved straight to Winchester to become part of 82nd Brigade -
They moved to France on 19th Dec 1914.
In 1915 he was in the 2nd Battalion and was wounded whilst in the trenches just outside Ypres, evacuated to Boulogne Military Hospital and died of his wounds 17 May 1915 aged 29. He is buried in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.
He is listed in the DCLI roll of honour as living in Bishops Hull. After the war when the Cemetery in Boulogne was reorganised , his mother Sarah was living at Bradford on Tone, Taunton
SOMERSET GAZETTE -
PRIVATE R J SWAIN (8612)
2nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
VICTIM OF GERMAN SNIPER
The recent casualty lists announce the death of Private R J Swain (8612) of the 2nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who formerly lived at Stoke St Mary, and whose mother now resides at Three Bridges, Bradford [on Tone].
Private RJ Swain was an old soldier and had seen active service in different parts of the Empire. He died as a result of a bullet wound in the head. A letter of inquiry sent by his sister (Mrs Wesden) was opened by the Company Sergeant Major, who replied as follows:-
Dear Madam – As Company Sergeant Major of “C” Company, you brother’s company, I opened your letter of the 21st inst addressed to the officer commanding, 2nd DCLI. I was with your brother in the trenches when he was wounded. He was on look-
I have known your brother for several years, as he was with me, in my old company “E”. He was my company’s cook, and a good steady, reliable soldier. It was while carrying out his duty in a conscientious manner that he got his wound and I hope sincerely that he will get over it quite and safe and alive a good many years.
I remain, yours truly,
S Hainwright
Company Sergeant Major
C Company
2nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
Dear Mrs Swain
Your son came into this hospital on the – of May severely wounded in the head. He was very ill indeed and could not possibly recover. He was very soon partly unconscious but he did not seem to suffer much pain. Even if the head wound had been such that he had lived he would never have been fit for work and that to a brave man would have been unendurable. I enclose what I suppose is the photo of his sister and her child, as I know how precious they will be to you. It is such a terribly anxious time for you all at home, and we often think of you and wish we had more time to let you know. Everything possible was done for his comfort and to ease pain. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Yours, very sincerely,
Sister Carnegie
Unfortunately, the hopes of the sergeant major were not realised, for a letter written by a nursing sister at the 13th General Hospital [Boulogne], France conveyed the news of Private Swain’s death to his mother in the following terms:-
THE GREAT WAR