Name
George William Swallow
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/11/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
37200
Bedfordshire Regiment
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GAZA WAR CEMETERY
XXII.A.6
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
St Laurence Church Memorial, Wormley, Not on the Newsells memorial
Pre War
William George Swallow was born in Newsells, Barkway, Herts in late 1891 to William and Elizabeth Swallow and baptised on 10 January 1892 at St Mary Magdalene Church, Barkway. Herts. He was one of three children and had two sisters, Frances and Lizzie.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 4 Macers Lane, Wormley, Herts where his father was working as a stoker at a nursery. They remained at the same address in 1911, at which time William George was working as a nursery hand in the glasshouses.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving in with the 1st/5th Battalion in Palestine.
William was killed in action on 2 November 1917 in Palestine during the 3rd Battle of Gaza and is buried in Gaza War Cemetery.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £6 2s 11d. His mother received a pension of 6 shillings a week.
William is also commemorated on his father’s grave in Wormley (St. Laurence) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF
WILLIAM GEORGE SWALLOW
KILLED IN ACTION NOVEMBER 2ND 1917. AGED 26 YEARS.
“TRUSTING CHRIST CRUCIFIED.”
N.B. On several military records William George's forenames have been transposed to George William.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer
