On the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France is the name of 24615 Lance Corporal John Robert Swinbank serving with the 15th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 01/07/1916.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Robert Swinbank was born at Malton Colliery, County Durham where he was baptised 16th June 1895. One of 16 children, he was the 4th born of 6 surviving sons and 4 daughters. 6 children died including Catherine 1882-1882, Robert 1890-1891 and Mary 1894-1894.
His father Richard Swinbank of Broad Myers, Plawsworth, County Durham was born 13th August 1858 and married 19th February 1877 in the district of Chester le Street to Ellen Brett, born 8th October 1860, originally of Seasalter, near Canterbury, Kent.
Richard Swinbank and family moved extensively over the years between Nettlesworth, Durham, Sacriston, Malton Colliery and Ushaw, where he was employed as a coal miner/overman in 1911. Only 5 of his and Ellen’s children were still living at home at Hill Top, Ushaw in 1911. Albert Henry (19) and John Robert (15) were employed at the colliery as a shifter and a time keeper respectively, Ernest Edward (12), Sydney George (11) and Lily Maria (7) were scholars.
January 24th 1912 only 53 years of age Richard Swinbank of Hill Top, Ushaw, County Durham died leaving effects in the sum of £110 5 shillings 6 pence to his widow Ellen.
Ellen was supported by her sons until the outbreak of war when they enlisted. John Robert presented himself at the recruiting office at Durham, September 1914. Assigned as Private 24615 Durham Light Infantry he joined his regiment at Newcastle upon Tyne the following day. The new recruits left Newcastle railway station travelling to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire where they were formed into the 14th and 15th (Service) Battalions, 64th Brigade, 21st Division, 3rd October 1914.
They trained without having any uniforms, with fake rifles and very few officers, doing little more than drills until early December 1914 when they were moved to High Wycombe and issued with their full equipment and training began in earnest. They returned to the newly refurbished huts at Halton Park in early April 1915 along with the 14th Battalion for intensive training, transferring to Whitley Camp, near Aldershot in July.
Having risen through the ranks Lance-Corporal Swinbank departed to France, October 10th 1915 as part of the British Expeditionary Force landing at Boulogne. He joined his regiment in the field and spent the rest of the winter in the front line trenches around Armentieres. In Spring 1916 they moved south to the Somme for intensive training in preparation for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme due to commence 29th June 1916 but delayed by bad weather until 1st July.
On the morning of 1st July after two huge detonation in the explosive packed tunnels under the German lines at 7.30 a.m. the whistles blew and the men went over the top. The 15th (Service) Battalion attacked the German front line north of Fricourt and by early afternoon had reached Shelter Wood taking 200 German prisoners for the loss of 450 men killed or wounded including their commanding officer.
Lance-Corpora l24615 John Robert Swinbank, Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 72,000 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa killed on the Somme before March 28th 1918 who have no known grave. He was 20 years of age and single.
As his sole legitimate beneficiary his mother received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Hill Top, Ushaw, County Durham.
John’s older brother Joseph William Swinbank served as Private 281154 Labour Corps. Albert Henry Swinbank served as Private 23799 Lincolnshire Regiment and Ernest Edward Swinbank as Private 78500 Northumberland Fusiliers and 100210 City of London Regiment, they all survived the conflict. Their brother Sydney George Swinbank was also old enough to enlist, however no record has survived.
Ellen Swinbank nee Brett never remarried after the death of her husband and died 24th December 1937 at Langley Park, district of Lanchester, County Durham aged 77 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Robert Swinbank is remembered at Malton on M49.01, at Esh on E75.01, at Lanchester on L62.01, and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 168.
