William Swinglehurst
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was the son of Joseph William (William) and Elizabeth Swinglehurst (née Shelton). William Swinglehurst snr. was born in East Markham, Nottinghamshire, in 1868. In 1881 he was living in Brickyard Lane, East Markham, with his grandparents William, a malsters' man, and Ann Swinglehurst. Elizabeth Shelton was born in Sneinton also in 1868. William and Elizabeth were married at Sneinton St Philip on 25 December 1884. They probably had at least 13 children who have been traced from the census records and registrations of birth (reg. Nottingham b. Sneinton). Two children, Albert and Annie, died in infancy. Phoebe birth registered 1885 (J/F/M) bap. Sneinton St Stephen March 1885, Robert William b. 1886, Ellen Kezia (also k/a Helen) b. 1888, John b. 1890, Albert b. 1892 d. 1892, Samuel b. 1893, William birth registered 1897 (J/F/M), Elizabeth b. 1898, Annie b. 1899 d. 1900, Polly Annie b. Dec. 1900 (reg. 1901), Violet b. 1902, Cyril b. 1903 and Ethel b. 1906. There is also a record of a Beatrice Swindlehurst born in 1895 (reg. Nottingham) who may have been their daughter; no other records for Beatrice have yet found. In 1891 William (24), a lace maker, and Elizabeth (23) and their children Phoebe (6), Robert (4), Ellen (3) and John (1) were living in Sneinton. They were lodgers in the household of Albert and Eliza Crofts. By 1901 the family was living at 42 Flewitt Street, Nottingham. William and Elizabeth had eight children: Phoebe and Robert who were both lace makers, Ellen, John, Samuel (8), William (4), Elizabeth (2) and Polly (4 months). Three children were born between 1902 and 1906. Both parents died in 1909; Elizabeth in April and William in August. In 1911 six of their children were living at 36 Massey Street, Nottingham: Phoebe and Ellen who were lace jenniers, Samuel a butcher, William an errand boy (leather manufacturer) and Elizabeth and Polly who were both at school. Also in the household was a boarder, Albert Lake (29, b. Mapperley Nottingham), a cabinet maker, who married Phoebe in 1911 (A/M/J). Three siblings were in care: Violet (9) and Ethel (4) were inmates at the Beeston Orphanage Girls' Home, Imperial Road, Beeston, and Cyril (7) was an inmate at the Beeston Orphanage Boys' Home. Robert may have joined the Royal Field Artillery as there are two census records for a Robert Swinglehurst (24) born Nottingham, who was a gunner with the 7th Battery RFA. One census was completed by Lieut. Warton RFA for the 7th Battery, address Jhansi, India, and the other by the colonel commanding the 56 Punjabi Rifles and recording those onboard HMT Rewa (c/o Embarkation Staff Officer, Southampton). This suggests the RFA contingent was embarked with other troops at Southampton for passage to India. There is a Medal Rolls record for a Robert Swinglehurst (36484 Bombardier) who was awarded the 1914 Star (qualifying date 16 August). The second son John has not yet been traced on civil records after 1901. William married Violet Hather in 1915 (A/M/J Nottingham). Violet was born in Nottingham in 1895, the daughter of Frank and Harriet Hather. William and Violet had a son Frank Wililam (Willie) b. 1916. They lived at 1 Pym Street, Nottingham.
11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment later transferring to the 1st battalion ('B' Company, VIII Platoon). William landed in France on 31st August 1915. He was wounded and taken prisoner and died of wounds on 29 May 1918. He was initially reported missing but the date of his death was later officially accepted as 29 May. William is buried in Vailly British Cemetery, Aisne, France (grave ref. III.A.41). William qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Vailly British Cemetery (extract): 'The village of Vailly-sur-Aisne was the point at which the 3rd Division crossed the river Aisne on 13 and 14 September 1914 during the Allied advance from the Marne. It fell to the German forces in 1915, was retaken by the French during the Chemin des Dames Offensive in April 1917, lost again to the Germans in June 1918 and finally captured by the French on 15 September 1918. Vailly British Cemetery was established after the Armistice when the remains of Commonwealth soldiers were brought here from other burial grounds and battlefields throughout the region.' Cemeteries and battlefield sites listed and included soldiers who had been buried by the Germans in German burial grounds. (www.cwgc.org).
William's brother-in-law, William Henry Evans, his sister Ellen's husband, served in the Sherwood Foresters (10583 Sergeant) and died in February 1919, the same month as Ellen. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Thy will be done' Nottingham Evening Post, 12th February 1919 :- “SWINGLEHURST. – Reported missing, now officially reported died of wounds in enemies' hands May 29th, 1918, Lce.-Cpl. W. Swinglehurst, the beloved husband of Violet, 1 Pym-street. I miss him, and mourn him in silence unseen, and dwell on the happiness that might have been. – Sorrowing wife and baby Willie [Frank William].' “SWINGLEHURST. – Reported missing, now officially reported died of wounds in enemies' hands, May 29th, 1918, Lce.-Cpl. Wm. Swinglehurst (Billie), 1st Sherwood Foresters, the dearly-loved brother of Phoebe Lake, 8 Stanley-street. Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away. Sadly missed. – Sisters and brothers (Albert in Salonika).” Note: Albert - probably Phoebe's husband Albert Lake. Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 British Red Cross and Order of St John Enquiry List (Wounded & Missing): enquiry 20 November 1918, William Swinglehurst reported missing 29 May 1918. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Violet was his sole legatee WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: widow Violet b. 1895 and son Frank William b. 1916.
