Federal Vision (again!)
I was recently told about the 'blog' belonging to David Anderson called 'More than Words' http://mothwo.blogspot.com/
He seems to share some of the same reservations I have about the whole "Federal Vision" mularkey; his blog might be worth checking out.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Jim Swift, killed in action, aged 19.
James Swift was my father's elder brother who died on the Western Front in 1918. When I was a kid the First World War seemed like ancient history to me but the older I get the time difference seems less and less significant.
Last weekend in Leeds I attended my aunt's 100th birthday party. Auntie Anne would have been 8 years old when Jim was killed; it is a remarkable idea that the records I airily pick over represent a real person that Anne knew and grieved for.
The details I have on Jim are sparse but knowing the date of his death and the unit he was with I can place him in the path of the German Spring Offensive of 1918. This was the German's final gamble to win the war outright before the Americans could intervene in force. The offensive is now known as "The Kaiser's Battle" or "Kaiserschlacht". German forces no longer required on the Eastern Front following the military collapse of Russia during the Revolution of 1917 were transferred west and the full force fell on the British front line starting on 21st March. British forces reeled under the blow, the Germans broke through and the army was forced to retreat across ground won at such a high cost in the preceding years. Eventually the British lines held and the German threat was contained.
I gather from the family that Jim had only just got to France when he was killed. This is the record I obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Casualty: Private JAMES SWIFT. 205628
Served With: 7th Bn. Queen's Own Royal (Royal West Kent Regiment)
Died: 28th March 1918
Commemorated: POZIERES MEMORIAL
Somme
France
Panel 58 and 59
Additional Information: Age 19
Son of Patrick and Mary Ann Swift, of 38 Exeter St.,
Bradford, Yorks.
He was born and enlisted in Bradford and formerly served in the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment.
Jim has no known grave.
James Swift was my father's elder brother who died on the Western Front in 1918. When I was a kid the First World War seemed like ancient history to me but the older I get the time difference seems less and less significant.
Last weekend in Leeds I attended my aunt's 100th birthday party. Auntie Anne would have been 8 years old when Jim was killed; it is a remarkable idea that the records I airily pick over represent a real person that Anne knew and grieved for.
The details I have on Jim are sparse but knowing the date of his death and the unit he was with I can place him in the path of the German Spring Offensive of 1918. This was the German's final gamble to win the war outright before the Americans could intervene in force. The offensive is now known as "The Kaiser's Battle" or "Kaiserschlacht". German forces no longer required on the Eastern Front following the military collapse of Russia during the Revolution of 1917 were transferred west and the full force fell on the British front line starting on 21st March. British forces reeled under the blow, the Germans broke through and the army was forced to retreat across ground won at such a high cost in the preceding years. Eventually the British lines held and the German threat was contained.
I gather from the family that Jim had only just got to France when he was killed. This is the record I obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Casualty: Private JAMES SWIFT. 205628
Served With: 7th Bn. Queen's Own Royal (Royal West Kent Regiment)
Died: 28th March 1918
Commemorated: POZIERES MEMORIAL
Somme
France
Panel 58 and 59
Additional Information: Age 19
Son of Patrick and Mary Ann Swift, of 38 Exeter St.,
Bradford, Yorks.
He was born and enlisted in Bradford and formerly served in the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment.
Jim has no known grave.
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