SWALLOW, Walter



No.1878, Private, Walter SWALLOW
Aged 20


1st/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 15th October 1915


Walter Swallow was born in Spring End, Ashen (Risbridge Q1-1895 4A:764), son of Walter and Esther SWALLOW (née MEARS).

1901 census...Aged 6, he was at The Street, Ashen with his father Walter SWALLOW [35] milkman on farm, born Clare; his mother Esther [33] born Stoke by Clare; brothers William [13] born Stoke by Clare and Harry [9] born Ashen; sisters Martha [12] born Clare, Mary [2] and Elizabeth [5 months], both born in Ashen

1911 census...Aged 16 a farm labourer, he was still in Ashen with his parents; brothers Harry (farm labourer) and Joseph Bertie [1] born Ashen; sisters Mary, Elizabeth, Rose [8] and Hilda [5] both born Ashen. All nine siblings survive.

CWGC have his parents at Highfield, Tilbury, Castle Hedingham after his death.


Walter enlisted in Clare, from his number, some time in 1913. He must have joined the same time as Thomas Ince since they have consecutive Army numbers

By October the Army was considering a withdrawal from Gallipoli but steady fighting continued. All Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" has for the 15th is that two letters tied with string to stones were thrown into the British trenches, both being invitations to spend a happy Christmas in Constantinople as prisoners of war.

CWGC records that the 5th Suffolks only death that day as being Walter.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Walter Swallow is buried in 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery, near Suvla, Turkey, grave 4:C:2

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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