STOKE ST MARY AND DISTRICT HISTORY GROUP

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 - 27th Division.

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 - 12 JUNE 1915


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:-


#top

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-out when he was hit by a German sniper in the head – a very serious wound – but our medical officer does not think it will be fatal as the bullet did not touch the brain.  He was, of course, taken from was called the First Dressing Station to the Clearing hospital down country, and I can assure you he was very much alive then and able to speak.  But, of course, since he left us in the trenches I have not heard anything further.  I should say he is still alive, as I would have been informed if he had died.  


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

WWI