SCHWALBE (Schwalbele), Meuritz

Maurice Schwalbe was born in the Russian province of Poland in the town of Kalish and was the son of Myer and Mary Schwalbe of 7 Weyska Street. The town was close to the frontier of Germany and in August 1914 it was virtually destroyed in the opening German campaign against Russia. Maurice Schwalbe was almost certainly living in Dudley at that time and it is quite understandable that he should volunteer for service in the British forces after this shocking treatment of his home town, friends and relatives. He joined the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers and probably joined them after their return from Gallipoli. They were posted to the Somme and were stationed on the left of the line for the assault on Beaumont Hamel. The opening day of the 1st July was a disaster for the Battalion. They were in the front line and suffered heavy losses from machine gun fire. Maurice Schwalbe was one of the many killed in action on that day. He was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval and Dudley Memorials.