Private Richard Swan

Private Richard Swan, 1st/7th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in France on 15th September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Somme, France. He had been born in Berwick and had enlisted in Alnwick. He fell in an attack on strong German positions near Mametz Wood which resulted in some gains which could not be consolidated and cost the Battalion heavily. 3 Officers and 40 Other Ranks were killed and 7 Officers and 219 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 74 Other Ranks were posted missing.  The photo shows the impressive Memorial raised to the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Division of which the Battalion was part until February 1918 when it was transferred to the 42nd ( East Lancashire ) Division as the Pioneer Battalion. It was erected near the village of Weiltje in the Ypres Salient where nearby on 26th April 1915 the Division had fought its first action during the Battle of St Julien which was part of the Second battle of Ypres. The photos show British troops on the Somme with the colour image showing a peaceful Somme landscape today.