Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery
Photo: James Pasby
Photo: James Pasby
In Garden House Cemetery, Swalwell is a family headstone which reads:-
To the memory of
Jackson Swindle
2nd Lieut. 14th D.L.I.
died of wounds Oct. 14th 1916
age 22
also
Matthew Clough Swindle
Pte. 23 Field Ambulance
killed in France
Oct. 18th 1917
age 21
William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Matthew, born in 1896, was the youngest son of Jackson and Jane (nee Clough) who married in 1878. They had 9 children together but 2 died. The other siblings included Andrew, Jane, Mary Ann, Thomas, Jackson and Margaret Elizabeth.
In 1901 the family were living in the Trimdon area. Eldest son, Andrew, was working as a stoneman underground.
By 1911 the family’s fortunes had improved as they were living in a seven roomed home at West House, Dunston. Father, Jackson, was a manager of a coal mine, Thomas was an apprentice engineer (fitter), young Jackson was a clerk at the coal mine whilst the remaining children were at school. Matthew and Jackson both appear to have attended Swalwell Junior School.
Matthew enlisted into the army and was posted to 23rd Field Ambulance R.A.M.C.
He was first reported missing on War Office Daily List no 5423 in November 1917 but in March 1918 another War Office List no. 5526 stated that he had previously been reported missing, believed killed but now reported killed in action (probably at Ypres).
His father added the following inscription to his headstone :- “I gave my life for thee what hast thou done for me?”
In later years as his father became established as a man of some importance. Jackson (senior) became involved in civic duties including being a member of the Gateshead Board of Guardians for which he had a responsibility to the Union Workhouse. He was also a magistrate at the Gateshead Petty Sessions and County Councillor.
In 1922 Whickham War Memorial was erected on land donated by Colonel R.H. Carr-Ellison C.M.G. on the south west corner of the village green. It was reported in a local newspaper on 21 August 1922 that 500 people attended the impressive and moving ceremony.
“The memorial was soon banked with flowers. The last to pay tribute was a small boy, who brought a bunch of marguerites straight from the fields. Col. Carr-Ellison took the laddie by the hand and conducted him to the memorial where he placed his flowers.”
The usual military honours were completed including the playing of the Last Post.
Matthew's older brother Jackson Swindle had died of his wounds in October 1916.
Matthew Clough Swindle is remembered in Dunston on D38.02 and D38.06, in Dunston Hill on D31.01 and D31.05, in Gateshead on G39.030, in Newcastle on NUT126, in Swalwell on S85.01 and at Whickham on W86.01, W86.03, W86.05 and W86.09
