Special Constable Alfred Joseph Swain Warwickshire Constabulary
The Man Alfred Joseph Swain was born on Sunday 25th January 1903 at 7 Kingsbury Terrace, Victoria Road, Aston, Birmingham, then in Warwickshire. Son of John, a Gas Works Labourer and Agnes nee Harris, he was baptised on 18th February at Aston St Peter and Pauls and one of six children, four of whom died very young, his surviving sister was Florence A born in 1899.
The census of 1911 shows John and Agnes living at 8 Osborne Buildings in Birmingham, but Alfred aged 8 and Florence, 11 are not shown.
Alfred was too young to see service during World War I being only 15 in 1918, but following his education began working in accounts. By 1925, aged 22 he was living at 35 Premier Street, Erdington, Birmingham and married Lily Hill during the second quarter of 1928 aged 25. By 1935 they were living at 50 Chartley Road, Gravelly Hill. They had three children, Patricia, born on 25th February 1929, John Bernard, 28th March 1932 and Margaret R 5th March 1935.
It appears Lily and Alfred separated, as the 1939 Register shows Alfred living alone at the same address and his job given as an Assistant Manager, Accounts Department, Steel Tube Manufacturers. Lily is living with the three children at 1 Market Street, the ‘Shoulder of Mutton’ Public House, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. Lily later re-married and died in 1988 aged 85. Interestingly, however, the 1939 Electoral Register also shows her at the Chartley Road address together with her mother Rose.
Alfred joined the Air Raid Precaution as a Warden and at the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, appears to have been exempt from military service as in about 1940, aged 37 he joined Warwickshire Special Constabulary as a Constable, serving throughout the remainder of the War. He qualified for the award of his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in 1943 and the first clasp in 1949, war service counting treble. At the end of World War II, he was also awarded the Defence Medal.
Alfred remained in the Special Constabulary following the war and re-married during the first quarter of 1946 to Lily Isabel Manning and they lived at 50 Beacon Road, Wylde Green. They appear also to have lived at 23 Cuckoo Road, Aston and 19 Teddesley Grove, Stechford. Alfred was awarded the second clasp to his Special Constabulary Medal in 1959 aged 57 and upon his retirement.
Alfred and Lily also divorced at some point, Lily re-marrying in 1978 and dying in 1994 and in later life Alfred lived at 55 Wilkinson Close, Sutton Coldfield and died aged 86 on 13th December 1989.
The census of 1911 shows John and Agnes living at 8 Osborne Buildings in Birmingham, but Alfred aged 8 and Florence, 11 are not shown.
Alfred was too young to see service during World War I being only 15 in 1918, but following his education began working in accounts. By 1925, aged 22 he was living at 35 Premier Street, Erdington, Birmingham and married Lily Hill during the second quarter of 1928 aged 25. By 1935 they were living at 50 Chartley Road, Gravelly Hill. They had three children, Patricia, born on 25th February 1929, John Bernard, 28th March 1932 and Margaret R 5th March 1935.
It appears Lily and Alfred separated, as the 1939 Register shows Alfred living alone at the same address and his job given as an Assistant Manager, Accounts Department, Steel Tube Manufacturers. Lily is living with the three children at 1 Market Street, the ‘Shoulder of Mutton’ Public House, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. Lily later re-married and died in 1988 aged 85. Interestingly, however, the 1939 Electoral Register also shows her at the Chartley Road address together with her mother Rose.
Alfred joined the Air Raid Precaution as a Warden and at the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, appears to have been exempt from military service as in about 1940, aged 37 he joined Warwickshire Special Constabulary as a Constable, serving throughout the remainder of the War. He qualified for the award of his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in 1943 and the first clasp in 1949, war service counting treble. At the end of World War II, he was also awarded the Defence Medal.
Alfred remained in the Special Constabulary following the war and re-married during the first quarter of 1946 to Lily Isabel Manning and they lived at 50 Beacon Road, Wylde Green. They appear also to have lived at 23 Cuckoo Road, Aston and 19 Teddesley Grove, Stechford. Alfred was awarded the second clasp to his Special Constabulary Medal in 1959 aged 57 and upon his retirement.
Alfred and Lily also divorced at some point, Lily re-marrying in 1978 and dying in 1994 and in later life Alfred lived at 55 Wilkinson Close, Sutton Coldfield and died aged 86 on 13th December 1989.
The Story The medals awarded to Alfred Joseph Swain were acquired from e-Bay on 19th December 2022 and of interest because of the double clasped, Special Constabulary Medal, the letter awarding the first clasp and the fact Alfred was a Warwickshire Police Officer.
Ancestry enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, remembering a hitherto forgotten man who served for many years during and after the second world war.
Ancestry enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, remembering a hitherto forgotten man who served for many years during and after the second world war.
Boxes of issue for the Defence and Special Constabulary Long Service Medals.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: ALFRED.J.SWAIN
This page last updated 2 Apr 23
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