We Remember ... Heroes of the Faith at St. Michael's - Arthur Benjamin Swanson

ARTHUR BENJAMIN SWANSON
1878 – 6 June 1921

Arthur Swanson was born in the first quarter of 1878 in St Pancras, London the sixth of seven children to Donald and Mary Swanson. His father Donald was Scottish and was working as a Corn Merchant when his son Arthur was born. His mother Mary was from Ewell, Surrey but unfortunately she died in 1881 when he was only three. Theirs was a Presbyterian family.

The 1911 census shows him living with his sister Mary and his half-brother Alan at 13 Whitehall Park Road, Chiswick. That year on 1 July he married Lucy Beatrice Willis at St Michael's and they went on to have two children, Ian and Kathleen. Arthur listed his occupation upon his marriage as a Private Secretary. The following year he was confirmed at St Michael’s, the first Confirmation at the Church.

Rev. Shelford mentions that Arthur Swanson was ‘one of our keenest workers’. He was a member of the choir and later choir secretary; sidesman; Church Council member, and also secretary to the Council, and Treasurer of the War Memorial Fund.

Arthur died on 6 June 1921 aged 43.