Swain, J L
JOSEPH LEONARD SWAIN
Remembered with honour La Brique Military Cemetery No. 1: Row F, Grave 15.
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915, and was killed in action. Unfortunately, Joseph’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There are In Memoriams to Joseph in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 11 November 1916, 10 November 1917 and 9 November 1918.
Son of Sarah (nee BROWN) and the late Sidney SWAIN.
His parents married 1868 in the Watford district. Sidney died 7 March 1911 at University College Hospital, Middx, aged 61, and was buried 11 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Sarah died 1922 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 25 January, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Joseph was born 10 October 1884 in Watford, and attended first Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School from 12 January 1891 to 2 December 1898. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, a carpenter apprentice aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a house builder aged 26, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and no siblings.
Service number
16546Rank
PrivateUnit
8th BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
10/11/1915Age at death
31Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)