This honorary appointment
was done by the full national executive.
We will be having a few
snacks and drinks at the Shellhole on 1 December @ 17h00 to congratulate him.
https://samilhistory.com/2017/03/15/edwin-swales-vc-dfc-a-south-african-hero-whose-legacy-is-been-eroded/
Edwin Essery Swales : Born in Inanda, Natal, 3 July 1915. Attended Durban High School, Jan. 1930 to Dec.1934. Worked for Barclay’s Bank, DC&O, in Durban 1935 to 1939. He joined the Natal Mounted Rifles, 1935 and left 31 May 1939 as a W.O.II. Rejoined N.M.R. on 4 September 1939.He served in Kenya; Abyssinia; Italian Somalia; British Somalia and Eritrea. Then (1941) in North Africa. In 1942, he left the army to join the S.A. Air Force. Swales received his wings at Kimberley in 1943. Then seconded to the Royal Air Force in 1943, he attended Flying Training School at R.A.F. Little Rissington, 1944. Later sent to the elite R.A.F. Pathfinder Force, 582 Squadron, Royal Air Force, at Little Staughton in July 1944.
Swales was awarded an immediate D.F.C. on 23 December 1944 following a bombing raid on Cologne. After a raid on Pforzheim on 23 February 1945, Swales was killed in action, crashing near Valenciennes, France and he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
Swales is now buried in the War Cemetery at Leopoldsburg, near Limburg, Belgium, Plot No.8, Row C, Grave No.5. (Although he had originally been buried at Fosse’s USA Cemetery). The headstone of Swales’ grave shows the Springbok head, common to the graves of all South Africans, as well as the Victoria Cross engraved on it. The legend on the headstone states:
Edwin Swales was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, on 23 December, 1944. The citation reads:
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following award in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations:-
Captain Edwin Swales, (6101V) S.A.A.F. 582 Sqn. :-
The Distinguished Flying Cross:
“This Officer was pilot and Captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne in December, 1944. When approaching the target, intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Despite this, a good bombing attack was executed. Soon afterwards the aircraft was attacked by five enemy aircraft. In the ensuing fights, Capt. Swales manoeuvred with great skill. As a result his gunners were able to bring effective fire to bear upon the attackers, one of which is believed to have been shot down. Throughout this spirited action Captain Swales displayed exceptional coolness and captaincy, setting a very fine example. This Officer has completed very many sorties during which he has attacked a variety of enemy targets.” (Official D.F.C. Citation)
Edwin Swales was killed on 23 February, 1945, and he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – the 3rd and last Pathfinder pilot to be so honoured (all alas, posthumous). It had been Swales’ 43rd operational flight for 582 Squadron, R.A.F. Here is the citation:
The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on
the under-mentioned officer in recognition of the most conspicuous bravery:-
Captain Edwin Swales, DFC (6101V) S.A.A.F. 582 Sqn. (deceased):
“Captain Swales was ‘Master Bomber’ of a force of aircraft which attacked Pforzheim on the night of February 23, 1945. As Master Bomber he had the task of locating the target area with precision and of giving aiming instructions to the main force of bombers in his wake.
Soon after he reached the target area he was engaged by an enemy aircraft and one of his engines was put out of action. His rear guns failed. His crippled aircraft was an easy prey for further attacks. Unperturbed, he carried on with his allotted task; clearly and precisely he issued aiming instructions to the main force. Meanwhile the enemy fighter closed the range and fired again. A second engine of Captain Swales’ aircraft was put out of action. Almost defenceless, he stayed over the target area issuing his aiming instructions until he was satisfied that the attack had achieved its purpose. It is now known that the attack was one of the most concentrated and successful of the war.
Captain Swales did not, however, regard his mission as completed. His aircraft was damaged. Its speed had been so much reduced that it could only with difficulty be kept in the air. The blind-flying instruments were no longer working. Determined at all costs to prevent his aircraft and crew from falling into enemy hands, he set course for home. After an hour he flew into thin-layered cloud. He kept his course by skilful flying between the layers, but later heavy cloud and turbulent air conditions were met. The aircraft, by now over friendly territory, became more and more difficult to control; it was losing height steadily. Realising that the situation was desperate Captain Swales ordered his crew to bale out. Time was very short and it required all his exertions to keep the aircraft steady while each of his crew moved in turn to the escape hatch and parachuted to safety. Hardly had the last crew-member jumped when the aircraft plunged to earth. Captain Swales was found dead at the controls.
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”
(Official V.C. Citation)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris, KCB, OBE, AFC, Chief of Bomber Command, Royal Air Force, following the loss of Edwin Swales, wrote a letter to Swales’ mother, Mrs. Olive Essery Swales, saying, inter-alia:
“…… On every occasion your son proved himself to be a determined fighter and resolute captain of his crew. His devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own safety will remain an example and inspiration to us all …..”
A cheque for R25 000 was handed over to Kayl Symons on Wednesday evening 17 November. This was generated at the fundraiser held at the Allan Wilson Shellhole last Friday evening. A big thank you to all who contributed to this worthy event. An extra R2000 was donated after the large presentation cheque was printed, so a total of R27000 was handed over.
Kayl Symons is a terminally ill 24-year-old Cystic Fibrosis patient in need of a life-saving bilateral (double) lung transplant. She currently has a lung capacity of only 17% and is on oxygen to assist with her breathing 24 hours a day.
The cost of the lung transplant is likely to be in excess of R2 million of which her medical aid will only pay a fraction. She will also need to relocate, at her expense, to Johannesburg to have the procedure and then reside there for at least six months post operation at her own expense.
Kayl is unable to work and is reliant on her mother to assist with her medical expenses. However, she has been doing her own fund-raising drives but the bulk of those funds have been utilized for various co-payments on her previous medical aid scheme. Due to that medical aid refusing to pay towards the operation, she he had no choice but to change schemes earlier this year and had a mandatory three- month waiting period during which time she and her mother had to fund her monthly oxygen and other ongoing medical bills herself.
A Fundraiser was held at Allan Wilson Shellhole on Friday night on the 12th of November. The Musicians were Evan Oosthuizen, Lynton Richards, and Chris Jensen. It was a really great evening of music, food and company, and very well attended.
Kayl Symons is a terminally ill 24-year-old Cystic Fibrosis patient in need of a life-saving bilateral (double) lung transplant. She currently has a lung capacity of only 17% and is on oxygen to assist with her breathing 24 hours a day.
The cost of the lung transplant is likely to be in excess of R2 million of which her medical aid will only pay a fraction. She will also need to relocate, at her expense, to Johannesburg to have the procedure and then reside there for at least six months post operation at her own expense.
Kayl is unable to work and is reliant on her mother to assist with her medical expenses. However, she has been doing her own fund-raising drives but the bulk of those funds have been utilized for various co-payments on her previous medical aid scheme. Due to that medical aid refusing to pay towards the operation, she he had no choice but to change schemes earlier this year and had a mandatory three- month waiting period during which time she and her mother had to fund her monthly oxygen and other ongoing medical bills herself.
The PMB& District Moth
Dugout hosted the Armistice day parade at the Garden of Remembrance on the 7
November at the Moth Garden of Remembrance, Pietermaritzburg due to the SA
Legion cancelling the traditional Civic parade normally held at the Town Hall .
The SA Legion did write to the Mayor stating that due to the Decay of the City
Hall, Cenotaph and war memorial it was decided to cancel and join the MOTH at
their parade.
It was well attended .
A hornbeam is the only surviving tree of the original wood. Situated near the Prince's Street-Regent Street intersection, behind the Museum, it was preserved during the replanting work. Today, it is the only living witness of the battle. A silent testimony but touching.
Cuttings from this tree have found their way to South Africa and been planted at a number of places, among others General Smuts' home at Doornkloof, Irene, and the Garden of Remembrance at Pietermaritzburg.
