Laurence Edmund Swann was known as Adam to his friends. He was a member of the Regiment. He lived at The Cottage, Bilting Lane, Ashford, Kent, England. He was born 29 February 1899 at Bury St Edmunds.

He was the son of the Reverend Henry Swann and Augusta Margaret Swann. He had four siblings, Edward Francis Aldersey Swann; Henry Lesley Aldersey Swann; The Reverend Cecil Gordon Aldersey Swann and Winnifred Mabel Aldersey Swann. He married Beatrice Mary Swann (née Ackworth) and they had two children. His first wife died in 1934. He married again Winifried Evelyn Monica Waddington in 1936. Sadly he survived his second wife and married for. third time Ivy Margaret (Peggy) Gray (née Boyce).

He was a solicitor in Ashford.  He was a RNAS Pilot Officer during the first war, served in the TA between the wars and Lt Col commanding the 1st Bttn of the Kent Home Guard during the second.1 

He was a member of Invicta Lodge of Kent No 709, being Master of Invicta in 1939 and became DC of Invicta from 1945 to 1952 and from 1956 to 1962. He also did sterling work for his local Masonic Hall in Ashford, being Secretary for some 10 years during which he played a key role in the winding up of the Masonic Hall and Public Rooms Company and the introduction of the now familiar tripartite trusteeship arrangement.

He was Provincial Grand Registrar for Kent in 1950.

He joined Victoria Rifles Lodge in 1961. He was made Worshipful Master in 1963 before being appointed Director of Ceremonies from 1965 to 1972.

He retired Cornwall and died on in 1980.


  1. Kent at War 1939–45. Tanya Wynn. Pen & Sword Press