The South African
Military History Society

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Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging

MEMORIALS TO MAJOR EDWIN SWALES, VC, DFC

1. We have already given considerable publicity to the Memorials to Major Edwin Swales, VC, DFC ("Swales") which were unveiled on Armistice Day 2009 at Durban High School ("DHS") and at the headquarters of the Natal Mounted Rifles (lithe NMR"). [2 and 3] We were honoured to have the Memorials unveiled by the Chief of the South African Air Force ("SAAF"), Lt. General Carlo Gagiano [4], and by Swales's niece, Professor Edwina Ward [5].

2. I would like to pay a short tribute to Swales, who was a very brave man and a true South African hero. His Victoria Cross (lithe VC") [6] and Distinguished Flying Cross ("DFC") are on display at this museum. (SA National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg) The miniatures of his medals are on display at his old school, DHS. [7] We would then like to show you some lovely photographs of the unveiling ceremonies which were taken by our past Chairman, Bob Smith.

3. The following is a brief timeline of the life of Edwin Swales. [8] I will run through the major events: Date Event 1915/07/03 1918/1919 1930/01/28 1934/12/14 1935/06/30 1939/05/31 Swales and his twin brother, John, were born. Swales's father, Harry, died in the influenza epidemic. Swales attended DHS. Swales served as a part-time citizen force member of the Natal Mounted Rifles (lithe NMR"). During this period he worked for Barclays Bank in Durban. Date 1936/03/12 1939/09/03 1939/09/04 1942/01/17 1943/06/26 1943/08/21 1943/11/04 1944/07/01 1944/07/12 1944/11/04 1944/12/23 1945/02/22 1945/02/23 Event Swales's twin, John, was killed in a motor cycle accident. Britain declared War on Germany. Swales rejoined the NMR. He saw action in Kenya, Abyssinia and North Africa. He rose to the rank of Warrant Officer 2nd class (Sergeant Major). Swales was transferred to the South African Air Force ("the SAAF"). Swales received his "wings" at Kimberley and was promoted to Second Lieutenant. Swales was seconded to the Royal Air Force ("the RAF"). Swales was promoted to Captain. Swales was posted to the elite RAF Pathfinder Force at Little Staughton near the village of the same name in Bedfordshire. Swales made his first operational flight with the Pathfinder Force. Swales was promoted to Captain. Swales took part in a daring daylight bombing raid on the railway yards in Cologne. The "Master Bomber" on this raid was Swales' close friend, Squadron Leader Robert Palmer, DFC. Palmer was killed in this raid and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry during the raid. Swales was awarded the DFC for his part in the bombing raid on Cologne. Palmer's VC was Gazetted on the same day. Swales was the Captain of a Lancaster bomber and acted as the Master Bomber for a huge raid on the town of Pforzheim, midway between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart. Swales lost his life during this raid and was posthumously awarded the VC for his gallantry during the raid. Swales is buried in the Leopoldsville Military Cemetery in Belgium. Date Event 1945/04/24 The posthumous award of the VC to Swales was Gazetted. ± 1950 A new thoroughfare was opened in Durban by the City's Mayor and was named "Edwin Swales VC Drive" after the City's famous son. 1950/05/31 Swales' mother, Olive, opened the S A Air Force Memorial at Swartkops Air Force Base near Pretoria. Swales's early life

4. Swales and his twin brother, John, were born at Inanda, Natal, on 3 July 1915. Their parents, Harry and Olive Swales, farmed at Ntambanana, the present-day Heatonville. They had an older sister, Joan (mother of Edwina) and a younger brother, Harry. After their father's death in the 1918 influenza epidemic, Mrs Swales and the 4 children moved to Durban.

5. As a boy Swales played in DHS's first cricket team and second rugby team. Swales's preoccupation with sport resulted in his failing the matric exam the first time around.

6. After school Swales joined Barclays Bank in Durban. He did his Active Citizen Force training in the NMR while working for the bank. He joined DHS Old Boys' cricket club, and played in the second team as opening batsman and wicketkeeper.

Outbreak of World War II

7. On 4 September 1939, the day after Britain declared War on Germany, Swales re-joined the NMR. He saw action in Kenya and Abyssinia before going to North Africa with the 1 st South African Infantry Division. A Captain Addison, who served in the NMR with Swales, said of him [9]
"I remember thinking before he went on operations that if ever a man could get a VC it would be him".

Swales joins the SAAF

8. While serving in Egypt in late 1941 Swales became fascinated with the prospect of being a pilot. He applied for a transfer to the SAAF, which was granted on 17 January 1942. He was selected with 24 other applicants by a Board sitting at Mersah Matruh in Egypt. They returned to South Africa for training as pilots. The commanding officer of NO.4 Air School at Benoni, Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, DSO, OBE, said, [10]
"Edwin Swales was the outstanding pupil on his course. His character was such that it influenced every other man. "

9. On 26 June 1943 Swales and 8 other veterans of the Abyssinian and North African campaigns received their wings at Kimberley from General Dan Pienaar's wife. On the same day Swales was promoted to Lieutenant. On 4 November 1943 he was promoted to Captain.

Swales joins the RAF

10. A few months later Swales was seconded to the RAF Bomber Command, and sent to England via Montevideo. After his transfer to the RAF's Bomber Command, he showed exceptional aptitude as a pilot and his daring exploits soon attracted attention. He never wrote to tell his anxious mother what befell him, but a Lieutenant Walls of the RAF once wrote to his own mother as follows: [11]
"In the batch I came over with there was a fellow called Edwin Swales, from Durban. He's a chap for whom I've always had a terrific regard. He's now in Bomber Command, and I think he's worth watching. He's always crazy about flying, and is doing jolly well.

After completion of one tour he's going straight into another one with the Special Duties outfit - Dam Busters, Tirpitz Sinkers, etc. - but his remarkable 'exploits' include the fact that he refuses leave when it comes round to him. Instead of taking it he sends his crew away on leave and takes on some other crew for bombing trips to relieve the other pilots.

Twice he force-landed his Lancaster successfully. On one occasion three of his engines were out of action when he was over the Ruhr, but he struggled back to Belgium in daylight and landed his aircraft. I hope desperately that he goes on to the successes due to him. If he survives there is no doubt he must go a long way. "

11. Lieutenant Walls' mother later sent the letter to Swales' mother in Durban.

12. In July 1944 Swales was posted to the elite RAF Pathfinder Squadron. He immediately struck up a lasting friendship with Squadron-Leader Robert Palmer, DFC, who had over 100 combat operations to his credit. Palmer was a "Master Bomber" of the Pathfinders. His task was to make the first run on targets and bomb them with pin-point accuracy to provide a marker for the bombers following him.

13. Swales proved an eager pupil, and Palmer taught him well. After Swales had carried out a series of day and night raids at the controls of his Lancaster [12], he was made a "Master Bomber" of the Pathfinders.

Attack on the marshalling yards at Cologne

14. On 23 December 1944 Squadron-Leader Palmer led a daylight-attack on the railway marshalling yards at Cologne. His Lancasters were to bomb the assembly area and disrupt the flow of supplies which were desperately needed by Field Marshall von Runstedt's forces in their counter-attack against the Allies in the Ardennes (otherwise known as the Battle of the Bulge). This was the 24-year-old Palmer's 111th mission.

15. Shortly before reaching their target, Palmer's aircraft came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Two of his engines were hit and set ablaze. Despite attacks by enemy fighters, he kept his crippled aircraft on course. After a perfect approach and pin-point bombing, his aircraft was struck by flak and spiralled to the ground in flames. Palmer was killed. Swales nevertheless proceeded to lead the Lancasters over the accurately marked target and they bombed the marshalling yards.

16. Palmer had been an outstanding pilot, and his proud record of heroic endeavour was recognized by the posthumous award to him of the Victoria Cross. Swales was awarded the DFC for the important role which he had played in the squadron's successes. Both the awards were Gazetted on 22 February, 1945. On the next night Swales was to lose his own life and win the coveted VC.

Attack on the town of Pforzheim

17. Although Swales had completed 30 operations and was due for leave at the time, he characteristically continued flying. On 23 February 1945 he acted as the Master Bomber for a huge bombing raid on the town of Pforzheim, between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart. This raid was carried out by 367 Lancaster bombers and 13 Mosquito reconnaissance aircraft.

18. Swales's Lancaster, which was equipped with top-secret navigational equipment, took off 5 minutes ahead of the other bombers. They were due to reach their target area around midnight, but Swales was subjected to anti-aircraft fire long before then. When Swales' Lancaster reached the target area, it was attacked by an enemy fighter and one of his engines was put out of action. The guns in the rear turret of his Lancaster jammed but Swales continued circling the area, issuing aiming instructions to the bombers which were making their run-ins. Again the enemy fighter attacked, this time putting another of Swales's engines out of action. Almost defenceless, Swales stayed over the target area and continued to issue aiming instructions until he was satisfied that the attack had achieved its purpose.

19. The speed of Swales's aircraft was so much reduced that it could only with difficulty be kept in the air. His blindflying instruments were no longer working. Swales was however determined not to let his aircraft and crew fall into enemy hands. Despite his drastically reduced airspeed, Swales set a course for base. After an hour he flew into thin layered cloud. He kept his course by flying between the layers but later encountered heavy cloud and turbulent air conditions. His aircraft became more and more difficult to control and it was losing height steadily. By then they were over friendly territory. Swales realised that the situation was desperate. He accordingly ordered his 7 crew-members to bale out of the aircraft and he continued to keep the aircraft steady until the last of his crew had parachuted through the escape hatch to safety. Hardly had the last man jumped out than the stricken Lancaster plummeted to the ground and collided with power lines. Swales was found dead at the controls of his aircraft, still strapped to his seat. He is buried in the Leopoldsville Military Cemetery in Belgium. [13]

20. During the raid on Pforzheim 10 Lancasters were lost over Germany and another 2 crashed in France, one of which was captained by Swales. From the RAF's point of view, the bombing raid was highly successful. The official death toll was given as 17 600 Germans killed with many thousands injured. About 83% of the town was destroyed. This raid must have shortened the duration of the War.

Posthumous award of the VC to Swales

21. On 24 April 1945, the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Swales was Gazetted. His VC citation concluded with the words, [14] "Intrepid in the attack, courageous in the face of danger, he did his duty to the last, giving his life that his comrades might live." These words have been inscribed on the Memorials to him which we have erected at DHS and at the headquarters of the NMR.

22. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur (IlBomberll) Harris sent a lengthy cable to Swales' mother which read: [15]
"His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross upon your son, Edwin. On every occasion your son proved himself a determined fighter and a most gallant and resolute captain of his crew. On his last mission he successfully completed a vital task allotted.to him with great coolness and courage, despite severe damage to his aircraft. Thereafter his only thought was for the safety of his crew. This he achieved at the cost of his own life. His devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own safety will remain an example and inspiration to us all. I send you my most heartfelt sympathy in the loss of such a gallant son and trust that this supreme award, so heroically earned, will serve in some measure to comfort you in your great sorrow. "

Memorials to Swales

23. Early last year we learnt that the name of the major thoroughfare in Durban, which had been named "Edwin Swales VC Drive" after the City's famous son, had been renamed "Solomon Mahlangu Drive". As a result a group of members of this Society, including prominent members of the KZN branch, decided to do something positive to honour the memory of Swales. After much deliberation, we decided to erect granite memorials in his honour in the Memorial Courtyard of his old school, DHS [16], and on the Memorial Wall of his old regiment, the NMR. These plans came to fruition and we will now show you a few of the lovely photographs which Bob Smith took at the unveiling of the Memorials: [17 - 87]

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