Swallow, T H
THOMAS HENRY SWALLOW
Remembered with honour Beacon Cemetery: Plot IV, Row C, Grave 15.
He attested 30 May 1916 in Watford for Short Service (Duration of the War): a kitchen man aged 28 of Watford, 5’7″ tall. He served at Home from 30 May to 12 November 1916, during which time, on 7 October, he was fitted with dentures! He served in France 13 November 1916 to 11 March 1917 when he was sent to East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital aboard H.S. Princess Elizabeth suffering from nephritis. From 4 June to 6 July 1917 he was at a Field Auxiliary Hospital before serving in France again from 8 to 26 November 1917. On 26 November 1917 he was sent to the Military Hospital, Nottingham, aboard H.S. Warildo with a gun shot wound to the right arm. He was there until 7 December, and returned to France 5 April 1918, during which time he was appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal 28 May. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Son of William or Thomas and the late Mary (nee STRADER) SWALLOW of Watford; husband of Ethel Mary/May (nee TAYLOR) SWALLOW.
His parents married 21 December 1873 at St Michael’s, St Alban’s, Herts. Mary died 1902 in Abbot’s Langley, Herts, aged 54, and was buried 4 November at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley. Thomas remarried 12 November 1904 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley, to Elizabeth FIELD; he died 1922 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 27 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1935 in Watford aged 74, and was buried 18 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Thomas was born 1888 in Abbot’s Langley, and baptised 20 January 1888 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley. He married first Edith Coming TYLER 1 April 1907 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley; they had two children. Edith died 1909 in Watford aged 23, and was buried 30 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery. Thomas remarried 15 October 1910 at Christ Church, Watford; they had five children. Ethel never remarried and died 1924 in the Edmonton, Middx, district aged 34.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Abbot’s Langley, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 13 he still lived in Abbot’s Langley, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a sugar stirrer at chocolate works aged 23, he lived in Watford, with his [second] wife and no children.
Service number
G/10213Rank
Lance-CorporalUnit
7th BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
06/08/1918Age at death
30Place 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)