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:-
Jackson born at Kelloe in 1894, was the middle 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, Matthew 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 attended Swalwell Junior School.
At some point Jackson enlisted and was posted to the 14th Battalion DLI serving as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Jackson Swindle died of his wounds on October 14th 1916. He was 22 years of age.
Information recorded by Forces War Records shows as follows:-
Battle of Le Transloy Ridges 1st – 20 October
The weather was torrential rain.
08/10/1916 – A patrol was in action at a point on the Baupame Road well beyond Le Sars. Later relieved and returned to Becourt Wood.
15/10/1916 Left the Somme by train for the Ypres Sector.
It is likely that Jackson was wounded during this encounter.
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 a County Councillor.
In 1920 he unveiled the Dunston and Norwood Collieries Memorial including his son Matthew's name.
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.
Jackson’s younger brother, Matthew also served in the Great War. He died October 8th 1917.
Jackson Swindle is remembered in Blaydon on B111.03 and B111.05, in Dunston Hill on D31.01 and D31.05, in Swalwell on S85.01 and at Whickham on W86.01, W86.03, W86.05 and W86.09
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 284
