Private George Alvern Swanton

George Alvern Swanton was the son of Elvena Swanton, of Haliburton, Ontario, Canada. He was 5’ 8¾”, 137½” lbs, fair complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair and with 20/20 vision.

He enlisted in 3A District Depot on 13 February 1943, and arrived in UK on 28 July 1943. He transferred to 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion on 3 July 1943. He qualified as a parachutist at RAF Ringway on course number 80 from 30 August to 9 September 1943. His course report stated “Worked hard, no hesitation or nervousness, good parachutist”, and took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy).

Private Swanton and the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped into France on 5/6 June 1944. He was killed in action on 18 August 1944, aged 20, and was given a field burial near Goustranville, and was re-interred to Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, on 16 September 1945.

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