Name
Albert George Swabey
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/04/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
28276
Border Regiment
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 6 A and 7 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Boxmoor memorials, Ilford War Memorial Hall, Essex, St Clement's Church Memorial, Ilford, Essex
Pre War
Albert George Swabey was born in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Herts in 1884. His parents are unknown.
On the 1891 Census he was listed as living at Apple Villas, Ilford, Essex with Alfred and Sarah Clampton, and their daughter Rebecca and was said to be a step child. By the 1901 Census Albert was listed as their adopted son and was working as a Greengrocer's assistant.
He married Annie Roberta Merritt in 1904 in Romford, Essex but she died in early 1905 aged 17 (probably in childbirth as their son Albert was born on 15 January 1905). Son Albert was living with his maternal grandparents Robert and Elizabeth Merritt in Ilford, Essex in 1911.
In 1911 Albert was living as a boarder at the home of Edwin and Rebecca Chesmore at 8 Willmotts Cottages, Roden Street, Ilford, Essex and working as a Greengrocer's Assistant.
He married Jessie Drain in Romford, Essex in 1914. Her address on pension records was given as 112 Hampton Road, Ilford, Essex and she later lived at 36 Canterbury Road, Leyton, London.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted in Warley, Essex and initially joined the Essex Regiment, but was later transferred to the 11th Battalion (Lonsdale), Border Regiment.
He was killed in action on 14 April 1917 aged 32. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His widow received his pay owing of £3 2s 1d and £1 from the the war gratuity of £3. The other £2 was given to the guardian of his child Mrs Annie Barnes, 315 Ley Street, Ilford, Essex. His pension was also divided, being 13s 9d a week for his widow and 7 shillings a week to the guardian of his child.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
