JOHN LESLIE SWORDER

“image Roll of honour”

Born: 21st July 1892, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Baptised: 25^th August 1892, at St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin.

Died: 31st March 1917; age 24; KiA at Ecoust St. Mein, south of Croisville.

Residence: Rosebank, 110, Constable Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: a Carman.

John had immigrated to Canada in 1911, he found employment on several farms. He was in Canada when war broke out and he attempted to enlist there. Accordingly, he returned home to enlist. Again, he was repeatedly rejected and took up munition work, afterwards working on a farm. After 10 attempts to enlist he was accepted in October 1916.

Enlistment: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Date: 2nd October 1916; Age 24 years & 2 months. He requested to join the Honourable Artillery Company.

Embarked; Southampton 24th December 1916.

Disembarked: Havre 25th December 1916.

Rank: Private; Service Number: 9098

Regiment: Honourable Artillery Company, 2nd Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.

Grave Reference:

24. A. 24.

Honourable Artillery Company Cemetery,

Ecoust-St.-Mein,

Pas de Calais,

France.

John was laid to rest in a joint grave with Henri Charles Trinder, a Private, service number 5789, for the Honourable Artillery Company, 2nd Battalion. Henri was killed in action on the 31^st March 1917, aged 27. In November 1915, he left his position as Secretary to the President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris, to enlist in the H.A.C. Henri was the only son of Henry Charles Trinder, a cook, confectioner, and refreshment caterer and Marguerite Heloise Trinder (nee Grossetete), of 14, Portsdown Road, Maida Vale, Middlesex.

Relatives Notified and Address: Son of the late Mr. William Sworder and Mrs. Edith Sworder, of 110, Constable Road, Ipswich.

Brother to CHARLES FREDERICK SWORDER.

CENSUS

1901   The Limes, Earls Colne, Essex.

John was 8 years old and living with his parents & siblings

William Sworder, 57, a retired Farmer; born Shillington, Bedfordshire.

Edith Sworder (nee Smyth), 37; born Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Edith Margaret Sworder, 12, born Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Mary Smyth Sworder, 11, born Hitchin.

Charles Frederick Sworder, 5, born Claygate, Surrey.

2 servants.

1911   Rosebank, 110, Constable Road, Ipswich.

John was 18 and a Clerk for a Surveyor. He was living with his mother & siblings.

Edith, 46, a widow.

Edith, 22.

Mary, 21.

Charles, 15.

John’s father, William Sworder died in July 1901, at his residence The Limes, Earls Colne, Essex.

John was educated at Ipswich School – entered in 1906 and left in 1908.

In 1911, 18 year old John, clerk for a surveyor embarked on the ‘Empress of Ireland’ of the Canadian Pacific Line at the Port of Liverpool. His destination was Calgary, Alberta, where he wished to be a farmer. He disembarked at the Port of Montreal, Quebec on the 27^th April 1911.

John, a 23 year old farmer embarked on the ‘Grampian’ of the Canadian Pacific Line at the Port of St. John, New Brunswick, Canada and sailed 3^rd Class to the Port of Liverpool, arriving on the 15^th March 1915.

Soldiers’ Effects to Mrs. Edith Sworder – mother, Miss Edith Margaret Sworder and Miss Mary Smyth Sworder – sisters.

Probate (sorted in 1937) to Barclay’s Bank Limited.

John is also remembered on the Chapel war memorial at Ipswich School, and at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich and St. Mary le Elms Church memorial.