JOHN LESLIE SWORDER
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Image from The UK, DeRuvigny’s Roll of Honour
Born: 21st July 1892, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
Baptised: 25th August 1892, at St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin.
Died: during the night of the 30th/31st March 1917; age 24; KiA by a shell at Ecoust St. Mein, south of Croisville.
Residence: Rosebank, 110, Constable Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: a Carman.
John immigrated to Canada in 1911 and found employment on several farms. He was in Canada when the war broke out, and he attempted to enlist there. Accordingly, he returned home to enlist. Again, he was repeatedly rejected and took up munitions work, after which he worked 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:
- 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 31st 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: Eldest 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, a 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 27th 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 3rd Class to the Port of Liverpool, arriving on the 15th 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 on the war memorials at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich, and St. Mary le Elms Church, Ipswich.
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