470th (North Midland) Field Company, Royal Engineers

13th Oct 1915 Support Battalions Advance

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Those known to have served with
470th (North Midland) Field Company, Royal Engineers
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Kemp MC.. Douglas. 2nd Lt. (d.23rd Mar 1918)
Swallow Alfred Bailey. WO2 (CSM). (d.21st Mar 1918)
Swallow Alfred Bailey. CSM. (d.21st Mar 1918)

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261284

CSM. Alfred Bailey Swallow 470th Field Coy. Royal Engineers (d.21st Mar 1918)

470th Field Company, R.E., Alfred Swallow is 3rd row up 11 from left

Alfred Swallow was born in 1881 (April- June) at Grantham to William Swallow of Barrowby and Annie Swallow (nee Robinson) of Lincoln. At the time of the census of 1891, Alfred Bailey Swallow was age 9 years; Father William, age 50, was a wheelwright; and they were living at 16, Mile House Barrowby. Alfred Bailey Swallow married Ethel Martha Keal (born 1880 in Grantham) in 1907 (January- March) in Grantham. The union produced one child, Alfred Claud Swallow, born 1908 (July- September) in Grantham. At the time of the Census of 1911, Alfred's wife Ethel Martha Swallow, age 31, was living with their child Alfred Claud Swallow, age 3 years, and her younger brother Albert Maaman Keal, age 29, at 70, Grantley Street, Grantham. Alfred Bailey Swallow, a regular soldier, was killed in action 21st March 1918. Probate: Alfred Bailey Swallow of 46, Houghton Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, a Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Engineers, died 21st March 1918 in France, administration Lincoln 5th November 1918 to Ethel Martha Swallow effects £ 191- 10s 5d. Son of the late Frederick William and Annie Swallow, of Barrow by Mill, Grantham; husband of Ethel Martha Swallow, of 46, Houghton Rd., Grantham. In March 1977, Ethel Martha Swallow died at age 97 in Grantham. (Researchers: Roy G Stedman and C J Anderson.)
He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal; King George's Delhi Durbar Medal. Alfred is remembered on memorials at Grantham St John Spittlegate, Grantham St. Wulfrum, and Barrowby All Saints.
From the Grantham Journal, 4 May 1918: 'Mrs. Swallow, of 46 Houghton Road, Grantham, has been officially informed that her husband, Alfred Bailey Swallow, 2763, C.S.M. of a Field Company, R.E., has been missing since March 21st, and she will be glad to receive any information from his comrades concerning him. C.S.M. Swallow is the youngest son of the late Mr. W. F. Swallow, Barrowby. His friends believe he is a prisoner of war. He left Grantham as recently as March 14th after being home on fourteen days leave. He joined the Royal Engineers nineteen years ago, and has seen considerable foreign service. He was present throughout the Delhi Durbar, and received the Long Service Medal. His service in France covers two years, eight months'.
From the Grantham Journal, 11th January 1919: 'Mrs. Swallow, 46, Houghton Road, would be extremely grateful for any information concerning her husband C.S.M. A.B. Swallow, 470th Field Company, R.E, who went into action on the 21st March 1918. Since then he has not been heard of. It is supposed that he was taken prisoner. Unwounded, but no definite news can be obtained'.
From the Grantham Journal, 3rd May 1919: 'We much regret to announce that Co.-Sgt-Major Albert Bailey Swallow, 470th Field Company, R.E., reported missing on March 21st last year, has now been officially notified as dead. The youngest son of the late Mr. W. F. Swallow of Barrowby, the deceased was well known in the town, and his numerous friends will receive the sad news of his death with much sympathy. C.S.M. Swallow was a soldier by profession, and by conduct he was typical of all that a good soldier should be. He enlisted in the Engineers some twenty years ago, and had seen considerable foreign service, having served in Singapore, Aden and India. He was present on the occasion of the Delhi Durbar, for which he received a special medal, and he was also the holder of the Long Service Medal. On March 14th, last year he returned to military duties, after fourteen days' leave, and seven days later, whilst gallantly assisting to repel the German onslaught, he was severely wounded. That fact was not known at the time to his friends, who presumed that he had been taken prisoner, and nothing was heard of him until last November, when his wife was informed by a soldier returned from active service that her husband was badly wounded on March 21st, and left on the field. This has now been confirmed in a letter written by his commanding officer, Major L. Robinson. He writes "When I was at home, I saw one of my officers (Lieut. Hulse), who was taken prisoner on March 21st, and he told me that your husband was very badly wounded in the head, and they had to leave him when the Germans drove them back, and eventually captured them. There seemed no hope for your husband, and it appeared to be only a few minutes before he would pass away. I am deeply sorry to have to give you this news after all this time of waiting. Lieut. Hulse says your husband was simply magnificent, and cheery and cool during the whole fight, until he was hit. After he was hit, and the ammunition was running out, he pointed to his own belt for them to take his. Nothing I can say can do much to comfort you, I am afraid, but he has left a legacy of valour and uprightness to his children. To me he was invaluable help at all times. My deepest sympathies are with you in your great loss". It was only on Sunday last that Mrs. Swallow received official news of her husband’s death. C.S.M. Swallow, who was thirty seven years of age, married the eldest daughter of the late Mr. Harry Keal, and his widow and two children reside at 45 Houghton Road, Grantham'.
Mark Swallow

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261282

2nd Lt. Douglas Kemp MC. 470th Field Coy. Royal Engineers (d.23rd Mar 1918)

Douglas Kemp was born in his grandparents’ home at 27, Princes Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight on 10th August 1892, the second child to Sydney Thomas Kemp and his wife Emily (nee Hayden). He spent his early years on the island, and from the age of 11 to 16 was educated at the Isle of Wight County Secondary School in Sandown. When he left school he became an articled apprentice for three years to a Mr. C. Mathews - a civil engineer, the Borough Surveyor of Ryde. During that time he was involved in estimating, and construction, and worked on sundry drainage, building and water supply schemes. (The 1911 Census shows him as living at home with his parents in Temple House, George Street, Ryde, where his occupation is given as being an architect's assistant). Having completed his apprenticeship, for twelve months or so, Douglas was paid 25 shillings a week by a Mr. Barton, and worked on some sanitary engineering, and a small town planning scheme in Ryde. In 1913 (probably around May) he moved to London, where up to July 1914 he was employed under the Borough Surveyor of Paddington, mostly reinforcing concrete on bridges. When war was declared in August 1914, he was working under Mr. Wilson (civil engineer) on the pier harbour at Thames Haven.
Aged 17, Douglas first became a soldier in the Royal Engineers in October 1909 when he enlisted at Ryde as a Sapper in the Hampshire (Fortress) RE, Territorial Force. In June 1913, he transferred to the London Electrical Engineers RE (T) as a Sapper, qualifying as a "skilled electrician" in July 1914, and a "superior electrician" in August 1916.
When the war broke out, Douglas was assigned to the 3rd Company, London Electrical Engineers and detailed to searchlight work at Dover. In December 1914, he was promoted to Acting 2nd Corporal, then in August 1915 to Acting Corporal. On 19th September 1915 he joined the British Expeditionary Force in France, where he spent some time attached to the 1/2nd Home Counties Field Company RE; and to the 1/3rd London Field Company RE in the searchlight detachment, where he was employed in general duties in the field. His rank as Corporal was made substantive on 2nd December 1915.
On 12th May 1916, Douglas returned to England for searchlight work with the L.E.E. In June 1916, he moved to SE Section L.A.D. He returned in January 1917, shortly before being attached to the RE Cadet School in Deganwy, Wales. On receiving a temporary commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, he was discharged from the L.E.E on 31st March 1917. As that rank, he served with the 470th Field Company (renamed from 3/1st North Midland) RE (T) in France.
On 9th of February 1918, Douglas was decorated with the Military Cross. The citation which was published in the London Gazette reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an enemy attack, he took charge of a party and held his position with great courage and coolness until reinforcements arrived. He then took part in a counter-attack and assisted in capturing an important trench which he held until relieved. He showed splendid initiative and determination at a critical time". The award of the Military Cross relates to the associated actions of the battle of Cambrai (20th November to 30th December 1917), when on 30th November 1917 the Germans launched an attack on the area surrounding the village of Gouzeaucourt.
On the 21st of March 1918, when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive, Douglas was taken prisoner of war at Noreuil. He died from a leg wound on 23rd March 1918 whilst in a German field hospital at Quéant. He was buried in a mass grave in a German cemetery there, and is commemorated in the H. A. C. Cemetery in Ecoust-St. Mein.
He was unmarried and had no children.
Mark Swallow

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Want to know more about the Royal Engineers?

Those known to have served with
470th (North Midland) Field Company, Royal Engineers
during the Great War 1914-1918.

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The Wartime Memories Project - 470th (North Midland) Field Company, Royal Engineers during the Great War -

470th (North Midland) Field Company, Royal Engineers

Want to know more about the Royal Engineers?

Those known to have served with470th (North Midland) Field Company, Royal Engineersduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 470th (North Midland) Field Company, Royal Engineers during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
470th (North Midland) Field Company, Royal Engineers
during the Great War 1914-1918.