Name
Percy Alfred (H J) Swain
7 Jun 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/08/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18315
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN
B.31.8
France
Headstone Inscription
GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Weston, We are not aware of any Dane End memorials
Pre War
Percy Alfred was born on 7 June 1893 (Baptised on 2 July 1893) in Weston. He was the third son of William Swain, a farm labourer, and Susan (nee Bonfield) of Dane End, Weston.
On the 1911 Census Alfred (as he is recorded) was living with the family at Dane End, Weston and working as farm labourer. He was employed by Mr T S White of Dane End Farm.
Wartime Service
Percy Alfred enlisted in Hitchin soon after the outbreak of war. Following training he went to France on 27 Jul 1915 joining 1st Battalion at Bray (Somme).
During the battle of Delville Wood (part of the larger Battle of the Somme 1916), He was wounded when the 1st Battalion were met by heavy machine gun fire as they advanced into Longueval Wood and suffered many casualties. He died of wounds at No. 6 General Hospital, Rouen, France.
Additional Information
His father, Mr. W. Swain, Dane End, Weston, Stevenage, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN". It is not yet certain that Percy had a direct connection to Dane End at the time of the war although he was there in 1911. War Gratuity of £7 and arrears of £11 7s 5d was paid to his Mother and Father. Two brothers, Jim (James William and Josiah also died. Josiah, Private 18695 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, died of wounds in France on 30 May 1918 and Jim, (J Swain Private 6625 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment died of fever in 1901 in Mafeking during the Boer War ( J Swain is among those named on the South African Campaign memorial in Bedford).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Peter Handy, Brenda Palmer
