Edward Swadling. Died 3 September 1916
Edward was born in 1898 to father, George and mother Martha in Hurst, Berkshire. He was the youngest and had five siblings, two brothers and three sisters. By the age of 12, Edward’s father was general labourer (1911 Census) but we are not sure if Edward was quite old enough to work. His parents lived at 98 Westcott Road in 1911 and up to his death. Edward joined the 15th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, sometime after September 1914 and was under age when he did so. The 15th was also known as the 2nd Birmingham Pals. Why he signed up to this particular regiment we do not know. Five weeks after the Somme had started, he had been killed. He was seventeen years old.
Name: SWADLING, EDWARD
Initials: E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Unit Text: 15th Bn.
Age: 17
Date of Death: 03/09/1916
Service No: 30155
Additional information: Son of George and Martha Swadling, of 98, Wescott Rd., Wokingham, Berks.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 9 A 9 B and 10 B.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
‘Fairview Cottages’ 98, Wescott Road Wokingham, Berks. (home in 1911 and parents at time of Edward’s death)
[iframe_loader width=”640″ height=”550″ frameborder = “1” longdesc=’ ‘marginheight=’0′ marginwidth=’0′ name=’ ‘click_words=’ ‘click_url=’ scrolling=’yes’ src=’http://wokinghamremembersco.ipage.com/Family trees/Swadling EdwardJ’]
Here is Ron Wilkes (Great Grand Nephew)
ronwilkes_1 Hi,
It seems that we both have george swadling in our family tree. can you tell me your relationship please. thanks
Ron
Inbox Jul 6 12:25 PM GMT
Wokingham_Remembers Hi Ron, I’m researching the names of the Fallen on Wokingham’s War Memorial and Edward Swadling is one we have just started work on. His photo (but nothing else yet) is on:
http://www.wokinghamremembers.com/?page_id=559 Feel free to download it. We have an overview of his family tree and we will be adding more information on the ciscumstances of his death by tapping into a local military historian. I’ll admit it’s a bit hit and miss, sometimes we can’t find any information. If you can help I would appreciate it. How are you related ? Cheers, Mike Churcher
Sent Jul 6 1:40 PM GMT
Wokingham_Remembers Not sure if you’re around Wokingham, but Edward once lived on Wescott Road. I used to walk my son to school every day on that road for about five years. There are another two roads close by, they are only small. However, we have so far found seven of the Fallen to have come from this small area. It’s astounding and I am discussing such pieces of local history with the schools in the area. Their Year Nines go to the Somme as part of their education. Cheers, Mike
Sent Jul 6 1:44 PM GMT
ronwilkes_1
Mike,
Thank you for your reply. i am in the early stages of research on that particular branch of my family tree. Antoinette(not her birth name) Swadling, Edward’s sister was my grandmother. I am grateful for permission to download Edwards photo and would be pleased to share any further information I may discover when I search the family photo’s and papers I have yet to do.
regards
Ron
Inbox Jul 6 3:08 PM GMT
Wokingham_Remembers Thanks Ron, Permission is the least of it, if anyone has any authority over his picture, it’s your family. I’m saddened that the names of the boys on the memorial are largely forgotten in Wokingham. The whole point for us is to put their stories out to as many people as we can. I had one person on the site complaining that their Great Uncle wasn’t even mentioned in the first place. He and about fifty others we’ve found. It’s Wokingham’s greatest story, but its a forgotten one. I’ve just added a new look page on one of the boys. Would you mind having a look and telling me what you think? The developer is going to add a text section by the photograph, so that we can add a short biography. We will do this for Edward too. http://www.wokinghamremembers.com/?page_id=1941
Sent Jul 6 3:25 PM GMT
ronwilkes_1
Mike,
I thought you might like to know that I believe there is a minor error in your family tree for Edward Swadling, his brother was Harry Swadling not Henry. The census fecord is not clear but I know of great uncle Harry and not henry.
Ron
Inbox Jul 8 2:27 PM GMT
Wokingham_Remembers Thanks Ron, I’ll have a look. Are you saying his birth name was Harold? My own Grandfather was born Henry and was called Harry, I think it was coined from Henry V111 being called King Harry. If he was christened Harold, I’d better make the change sharpish or might get my head chopped off. How’s it going, got any gossip I can add to the tree? Do you have anything on the Royal Warwicks regiment that Edward belonged to? I have masses on the Royal Berks and it helps build up a picture of the boys military career. Thanks again, Mike
Sent Jul 8 2:40 PM GMT
ronwilkes_1
Mike,
Birth name Harry Swadling
BMD index :-
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1892
Registration district: Wokingham
Volume:2c Page:383
Ron.
Inbox Jul 10 6:08 PM GMT
Wokingham_Remembers Hi Ron, what’s your email address, I’ll show you where I got the Henry name from… it’ll make you laugh.
Sent Jul 10 6:21 PM GMT
ronwilkes_1 mike,
ronwilkes@gmail.com
thanks Ron
Inbox Jul 10 6:34 PM GMT
Wokingham_Remembers Hi Ron. Wokingham Town Council are commemorating the First World War Centenary on September 14th (a Sunday) and I wondered if you would like to come along (Edward Swadling) ? The Council (and I) are keen to meet those with local connections to the war’s servicemen . My email is: mike@wokinghamremembers.com . Many thanks, Mike Churcher
Sent Aug 9 10:04 AM GMT
ronwilkes_1
Mike,
Thanks for the invitation we would love to attend.