Arthur Swain was killed in action on this day in 1917
Arthur Swain was born in Burnley in 1897, the only son of Henry Swain and Mary Ann (née Maden). They were both cotton weavers and lived at 90 Travis Street in Burnley.
His father died in 1913.
Arthur had already left school by the age of 13 and, like his parents, was working as a cotton weaver at Thistlewaite's on Elm Street.
He was living at 20, North Street, Burnley when he attested (as 23399 in the East Lancashire Regiment) in December 1915. He joined the Army on 18 May 1916.
He transferred to the 13 Battalion, Essex Regiment after arrival in France in November 1916, taking part in actions on the Ancre and at Arras.
He suffered from trench feet and spent time in Queen Mary's Military Hospital in Whalley in March 1917.
At the beginning of December 1917, the Battalion War Diary tells us that they had moved to "trenches in K3a to the west of Graincourt, in support of 22nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers".
On 4 December, the war diary further reports "Heavy shelling by enemy. 4 O.R. killed". Arthur was one of those killed. He was posted missing to the south of Moeuvres (vicinity of ‘Lock Nr 6' on the Canal du Nord).
Hus body was never identified and he is now commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial in France.
A soldier friend of Arthur's wrote
"We went through one of the worst battles that have been fought, but poor lad, he was killed by a shell exploding in the trench, dying instantaneously. He was a proper hero and, had he come through safely, he would have been recommended for his bravery and courage. He had just received a parcel from the school he formerly attended, and other communications from his family, and he reckoned on buying souvenirs to send home".
32637 Pte Arthur Swain, 13th Bn, Essex Regiment