George Swanson died in a road accident while on duty in Darlington during the war
Death
SWANSON—On 12th October, 1942, at Darlington Hospital (result of accident), George Morrison Swanson (N.F.S.), beloved husband of fanny Cumming, 4 Incle Street.
Thy will be done.
(Paisley Daily Express, Tuesday, October 13, 1942. Page 4.)
Paisley man's Tragic Death
Former Church Officer of Wallneuk Church
The death took place early on Monday morning at Darlington Memorial Hospital as
the result of an accident of George Morrison Swanson, of the National Fire
Service, Paisley.
He was an expert driver and was engaged in
the mechanical department of the service. His duties included the maintenance of
vehicles and their transport from England. He was in England on Friday last and
was bringing a motorcycle to Paisley when he met with an accident near
Darlington on Saturday night. Swanson was taken to the
Darlington hospital suffering from severe head injuries and, as already stated,
died on Monday.
Swanson was born in the East end of
Paisley and was a pupil of Carbrook Street School. He was associated with Canal Street Church. For a period he
was church officer of Elderslie East Church and was captain of the Boys Brigade
Company. The Life Boy Section also engaged is keen interest. Later he was
appointed church office of Wallneuk Church and continued his interest in the
Life Boy movement. In April, 1938, he joined the National Fire Service and
ultimately through his duties in that direction resigned his post as church
officer of Wallneuk. Before joining the national Fire Service he was employed
with the Glasgow Corporation Tramways.
Deceased, who was 32 years of age resided at 4 Incle Street, and is survived by
Mrs Swanson and four sons. The oldest is 8 years of age and the youngest three
months.
(Paisley Daily Express Wednesday October
14, 1942. Page 4.)
FUNERAL OF PAISLEY FIREMAN
The funeral took place to Hawkhead Cemetery yesterday
afternoon of the late George Morrison Swanson, of the National Fire Brigade,
paisley who was fatally injured near Darlington last weekend when bringing a motor cycle to
Paisley. Two fire engines were in the cortege from
4 Incle Street, the residence of the deceased, to
the cemetery. There were about 250 men and women of the National Fire Service at
the cemetery gate, under the charge of Divisional Officer Thomas McCorkindale.
The company followed the funeral to the grave. After the committal service,
conducted by the Rev. William Muir, Wallneuk, the mourners filed past the open
grave as their last tribute to deceased. There were many beautiful floral
tributes.
(Paisley Daily Express, Saturday, October 17, 1942. Page 4.)
Acknowledgement
MRS SWANSON
and FAMILY also MOTHER, BROTHER and SISTERS of the late
GEORGE M. SWANSON desire to thank relatives, friends, neighbours, also
National Fire Service for kind expressions of sympathy, floral tributes, letters
and cards received in their sad bereavement. They also desire to thank doctor,
sister and staff of Darlington Hospital for their great kindness, also Rev. Wm.
Muir and Messrs Wm. Harker and Sons, of Darlington, for services rendered.
—4 Incle Street and 13 Bank Street
Darlington papers please copy.
(Paisley Daily Express, Saturday, October
17, 1942. Page 4.)
FORGOTTEN FIREMAN HONOURED
A quirk of fate meant that a fireman
from Paisley failed to receive local recognition as wartime casualties were
remembered this month.
Fireman George Swanson, who escorted road convoys of ammunition, was
32-years-old when he was killed in Darlington.
There was a parade of 350 firemen to his military funeral at Hawkhead Cemetery
in 1942.
But his name was missing when tributes were paid in the town earlier this month
to three firemen from Paisley who died during the war.
But the spotlight was thrown on the wartime heroes before the recent unveiling
of a memorial at St Paul’s Cathedral to all Britain’s firemen killed in the war.
And although George seems to have been forgotten in his home town, his widow,
Francis, 80, of Glencairn Road, was delighted to hear that his name has been
included on the cathedral’s role of honour unveiled by, the Queen Mother and on
a second list at the Brigade’s Chapel of Remembrance at Moreton-on-the-Marsh.
A Fire Brigade spokesman said Mr Swanson had not been included in the Scottish
list as wartime records showed he had died at Darlington. During the war, he
said, those who died on duty elsewhere were included in the casualty figures for
the area in which they were killed.
George was the Wallneuk Church officer when, as an auxiliary fireman, he was
called up to the fire service, based at Gordon Street.
He was killed in 1942 in a road accident when, for some unknown reason, he lost
control of the motorcycle combination he was bringing back from Durham.
His citation said he was killed while engaged on national service.
Of his four sons, Stewart lives with his mother, Lewis has started his own car
valeting business in Paisley, George is a company boss in Venezuela and Brian is
a top man in a Canadian newspaper.
(The Paisley Daily Express, Wednesday, May 22, 1991. Page 6.)