Edwin Swales
Captain, South African Air Force Secunded to 582 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Register No.
- 1197 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain (register: Acting Major) all Captains →
- Unit
- South African Air Force Secunded to 582 Squadron, Royal Air Force (register: No. 582 Squadron RAF) all No. 582 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 23 February 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 24th April 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 3rd July 1915 at Inanda, Natal, South Africa
- Died
- 23rd February in burning Aircraft after crashing into
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- 5, at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery,Plot 8, Row C, Limburg, Belgium. Edwin Swales VC Drive, Durban.---- His Natal Mounted Rifles, Sam Browne Belt (glass cased) on exhibition; Edwin Swales Scholarship and Swales House created at Durban High School.— First National Bank named after him
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SWALES, Edwin. ( reg No.1197)
Captain. South African Air Force Secunded to 582 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
London Gazetted on 24th April 1945.
Born on 3rd July 1915 at Inanda, Natal, South Africa.
Killed on 23rd February in burning Aircraft after crashing into high tension cables at Limburg, Belgium.
Memorial on Grave 5, at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery,Plot 8, Row C, Limburg, Belgium. Edwin Swales VC Drive, Durban.---- His Natal Mounted Rifles, Sam Browne Belt (glass cased) on exhibition; Edwin Swales Scholarship and Swales House created at Durban High School.— First National Bank named after him. Medals and Uniform at Johannesburg Museum.
Digest of Citation reads: On 23rd February 1945, whilst leading an attack on Pforzheim, Germany, his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. One engine, fuel tanks and the rear gun turret being badly damaged. Regardless he carried on but was again attacked, this time the one of the port engines was put out of action. Nevertheless he remained over the target until he was satisfied that the attacks purpose had been achieved. He finally managed to get the crippled Lancaster back to Allied occupied territory before ordering his crew to bail-out. As the last crew member jumped, the Lancaster plunged to earth, crashed into some high-tension cables and exploded. Captain Swales was found dead at the controls.
Additional Information: Edwin Swales and his twin brother John Harry,(killed in a motor cycle accident in 1935) were born 3rd July, 1915 at Inanda, Natal, South Africa, the sons of Harry and Olive Swales. Edwin's father, died three years later, in 1918, during the influenza epidemic of 1918-19. He also had an older sister, Joan and a younger brother, Harry Evelyn, who served in the NMR until October 1940 when he transferred to the South African Air Force. He was educated at Durban High School, going on to work at Barclays Bank. In his spare time he did duty with the Natal Mounted Rifles. On the outbreak of war in 1939, he joined the Mounted Rifles full-time. He saw service in Abyssinia and Egypt. Being interested in flying he transferred to the South African Air Force on 17th January 1942. His Pilot Wings awarded on the 26th June 1943 at Kimberley, being promoted to lieutenant on the same day. In August 1943 he was secunded to 582 Squadron of the Royal Air Force which was stationed at RAF Little Staunton, Bedfordshire. In 1944 he was promoted to Acting Major. He was killed, after ordering his crew to abandon the aircraft, by crashing into some high-tension cables and exploding. He is buried in the Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium.
DECORATIONS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS Victoria Cross (Gazetted 24th February 1945) Distinguished Flying Cross (Gazetted January 1945) 1939-45 Star Africa Star France and Germany Star British Defence Medal The War Medal Africa Service Medal (Inscribed)
Alf's notes on his life
Medals and Uniform at Johannesburg Museum. Digest of Citation reads: On 23rd February 1945, whilst leading an attack on Pforzheim, Germany, his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. One engine, fuel tanks and the rear gun turret being badly damaged. Regardless he carried on but was again attacked, this time the one of the port engines was put out of action. Nevertheless he remained over the target until he was satisfied that the attacks purpose had been achieved. He finally managed to get the crippled Lancaster back to Allied occupied territory before ordering his crew to bail-out. As the last crew member jumped, the Lancaster plunged to earth, crashed into some high-tension cables and exploded. Captain Swales was found dead at the controls.
Additional information
Edwin Swales and his twin brother John Harry,(killed in a motor cycle accident in 1935) were born 3rd July, 1915 at Inanda, Natal, South Africa, the sons of Harry and Olive Swales. Edwin's father, died three years later, in 1918, during the influenza epidemic of 1918-19. He also had an older sister, Joan and a younger brother, Harry Evelyn, who served in the NMR until October 1940 when he transferred to the South African Air Force. He was educated at Durban High School, going on to work at Barclays Bank. In his spare time he did duty with the Natal Mounted Rifles. On the outbreak of war in 1939, he joined the Mounted Rifles full-time. He saw service in Abyssinia and Egypt. Being interested in flying he transferred to the South African Air Force on 17th January 1942. His Pilot Wings awarded on the 26th June 1943 at Kimberley, being promoted to lieutenant on the same day. In August 1943 he was secunded to 582 Squadron of the Royal Air Force which was stationed at RAF Little Staunton, Bedfordshire. In 1944 he was promoted to Acting Major. He was killed, after ordering his crew to abandon the aircraft, by crashing into some high-tension cables and exploding. He is buried in the Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium. DECORATIONS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS Victoria Cross (Gazetted 24th February 1945) Distinguished Flying Cross (Gazetted January 1945) 1939-45 Star Africa Star France and Germany Star British Defence Medal The War Medal Africa Service Medal (Inscribed)
high tension cables at Limburg, Belgium.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: 5, at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery,Plot 8, Row C, Limburg, Belgium. Edwin Swales VC Drive, Durban.---- His Natal Mounted Rifles, Sam Browne Belt (glass cased) on exhibition; Edwin Swales Scholarship and Swales House created at Durban High School.— First National Bank named after him
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