Archibald Casswell

Private Archibald Casswell – Worcestershire Regiment, 1^st Battalion

Early Life

Archibald Casswell was born in 1883 in Swansea, the son of William Casswell and Jennette Chalk, who had married in 1873 at St. Clement, Hastings, Sussex.

1891 Census

By the time of the 1891 Census, the Casswell family, recorded under the spelling “Caswell,” were living at 43 Gorse Lane. Surrey-born William, 46, was employed as a Commission Agent, while Jennette, 46, was Swansea-born. Their two children were Gladys, 9, and Archibald, 8.

1901 Census

The last census to record Archibald before the war was the 1901 Census. At this time, the family was living at 44 Trafalgar Terrace. William, 56, was working as an Accountant Ship Chandler, and Jennette was also 56. Their children were Katherine, 26; Gladys, 19; and Archibald, 18, who was employed as a Railway Clerk. Also, present were a few boarders: Mary Rhys, 72; Sarah Rhys, 66; both widowed, and Robert Baynton, 21, an engineer.

Military Service

Short Service Record

Archibald enlisted in 1915 and served as a Private with the Worcestershire Regiment, 1^st Battalion. His service records also note that he had previously served with the 3^rd Glamorgan Rifle Volunteers.

Cambria Daily Leader

On the 7^th of July 1918, Archibald Casswell died at Leicester. The Cambria Daily Leader, published on the 10th of July 1918, reported his death and recorded that he had been invalided out of the army after being wounded in France. The same report also described him as “an old footballer,” a reminder of his involvement in local sport before the war.

Burial

Archibald Casswell
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Archibald was buried at Danygraig Cemetery, where his name is preserved among Swansea’s fallen. His funeral was a solemn reminder of the personal cost of the war, especially for a man once active in the sporting and working life of the community, now resting with his fellow servicemen.

Legacy

Archibald’s story reflects the path of many Swansea men who volunteered, served, and suffered during the First World War. His mention as an “old footballer” suggests that he was remembered not only as a soldier but also as part of Swansea’s sporting culture, a man whose loss was felt both on the field and at home. His grave at Danygraig continues to stand as part of the wider narrative of sacrifice that touched so many Swansea families during the war years.