5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
George William Swayne was born in Painswick in 1864, the son of George and Sarah Swain.
He originally enlisted in the Army in December 1883, when aged 19 and a general labourer. He initially signed on for a period of 12 years and joined the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment at Bristol on 1 January 1884 and was given the number 663.
Having no doubt undergone a period of basic training he was posted to India, arriving there on 11 February 1885 and went on to serve in various parts of that country for nine years and ten months. Whilst there he had a few medical issues, notably enteric fever and a fractured leg. He returned to the UK on 29 November 1894, where he served until 20 February 1896: having completed his 12 years he joined the Reserve until 1901. On 17 October 1903, he attested for service in the Militia or Reserve Division of the Militia, when aged 39 and living in Painswick. He was discharged on 16 October 1907, having completed his four year term of engagement.
In the first half of 1896 he married Pauline (Polly) Maria Musty at Stroud, she was aged 20 and he 32. The couple went on to have three children (Winifred Grace, born 1897; Donald Edward born 1899 and Phyllis Margaret born 1903. The 1911 Census records the family living at Butt Green, Painswick and George’s occupation as ‘labourer’ – he may also have undertaken plumbing subsequent to leaving the Army. Polly is shown as being a worker in a pen factory.
Following the outbreak of the Great War George attested for service with the Territorial Force on 23 November 1914, aged 49. He undertook to serve for one year in the UK. His posting was to the 5th Glosters (National Reserve), receiving the number 3674 and he was possibly involved with training duties. He was discharged from the Army on 3 March 1916, having been found medically unfit for service and was awarded a Silver War Badge to denote discharge from active service. His discharge papers indicate that he had shown very good character during his service.
The underlying reason for his discharge was an asthmatic condition, deemed to have been brought on by military service. It was sufficiently severe to warrant a disability pension, as he was incapable of undertaking work.
The cause of death according to a recently released Pension Record card was asthma and cardiac dropsy. He died at home on 20 March 1920, aged 55 and was buried in Painswick Churchyard, where a CWGC headstone now marks his grave. He is commemorated on the Painswick War Memorial.
His widow, Pauline, appears to have re-married in 1930.
Researched by Graham Adams 14 March 2018 (revised 9 August 2021)