| DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA |
| EDWIN SWALES VC & THE ISI'BUBULUNGU COAST HISTORY |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Edwin Swales was born on July 3rd 1915 at Inanda near Durban, to Harry E and Olive M
Swales one of twins the other being his brother John, his parents farmed at a farm
called "Fairview" at a town called Ntambanana , which is now called Heatonville, the
father Harry E Swales died 3 years later in the great flu epidemic of 1918, after this the
family moved to Durban, Edwin attended Durban High School where he excelled at
cricket and rugby, he played for the first cricket team and the second rugby team, there
is a Swales house in commemoration of him at the school to this day. After leaving
school Edwin joined Barclays Bank, and in his spare time did duty with the Natal
Mounted Rifles, his twin brother John was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1935. Just
one day after the second world war broke out young Edwin joined the Natal Mounted
Rifles full time, he first saw active service in the Abyssinian campaign in Africa with rank
of warrant officer 2nd class, his unit then went on to the Middle East with the 1st South
African Infantry Division, Edwin fought in Egypt in 1942 with the rank of sergeant major.
It was while serving in Egypt that he became more and more fascinated with the idea of
flying, he then applied for a transfer to the S.A.A.F which was granted on the 17th
January 1942, sometime after this he returned to South Africa and transferred to the
South African Air Force, he passed his training at No.4 Air Training School at Benoni,
South Africa, with top marks. Edwin received his wings on 26th June 1943 at Kimberley,
and was promoted to lieutenant on the same day; in August 1943 he was seconded to
join the RAF in England. On 4th November 1943 he was promoted to Captain, he then
travelled to England via Montevideo and eventually joined 582 squadron at Little
Staughton, Bedfordshire, in mid -1944. During his active service Edwin Swales was
twice forced to crash land his Lancaster bomber, on one occasion three of his engines
were put out of action when he was over the Ruhr valley, but he struggled on and made
it back to Belgium and landed safely. In 1944 he was promoted to acting Major and it
was about this time that the well-known English artist Sir W Rothenstein chose Edwin
Swales as a subject for a portrait of a typical airman.
Swales one of twins the other being his brother John, his parents farmed at a farm
called "Fairview" at a town called Ntambanana , which is now called Heatonville, the
father Harry E Swales died 3 years later in the great flu epidemic of 1918, after this the
family moved to Durban, Edwin attended Durban High School where he excelled at
cricket and rugby, he played for the first cricket team and the second rugby team, there
is a Swales house in commemoration of him at the school to this day. After leaving
school Edwin joined Barclays Bank, and in his spare time did duty with the Natal
Mounted Rifles, his twin brother John was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1935. Just
one day after the second world war broke out young Edwin joined the Natal Mounted
Rifles full time, he first saw active service in the Abyssinian campaign in Africa with rank
of warrant officer 2nd class, his unit then went on to the Middle East with the 1st South
African Infantry Division, Edwin fought in Egypt in 1942 with the rank of sergeant major.
It was while serving in Egypt that he became more and more fascinated with the idea of
flying, he then applied for a transfer to the S.A.A.F which was granted on the 17th
January 1942, sometime after this he returned to South Africa and transferred to the
South African Air Force, he passed his training at No.4 Air Training School at Benoni,
South Africa, with top marks. Edwin received his wings on 26th June 1943 at Kimberley,
and was promoted to lieutenant on the same day; in August 1943 he was seconded to
join the RAF in England. On 4th November 1943 he was promoted to Captain, he then
travelled to England via Montevideo and eventually joined 582 squadron at Little
Staughton, Bedfordshire, in mid -1944. During his active service Edwin Swales was
twice forced to crash land his Lancaster bomber, on one occasion three of his engines
were put out of action when he was over the Ruhr valley, but he struggled on and made
it back to Belgium and landed safely. In 1944 he was promoted to acting Major and it
was about this time that the well-known English artist Sir W Rothenstein chose Edwin
Swales as a subject for a portrait of a typical airman.
| Major Edwin Swales VC. DFC. 1915 -1945 |
On Dec 23rd, 1944 - his 33rd sortie - he was in the bomber formation led by Sqn Ldr
Robert Palmer raiding Cologne. Attacked five times by Luftwaffe fighters, Swales
coolness under fire permitted his gunners to destroy at least one German fighter; and
he was awarded a DFC. On the night of February 23rd/24th, 1945 - his 43rd
operational sortie - Swales was selected as master bomber for a concentrated attack on
Pforzheim near Karlsruhe, Germany, flying Lancaster PB538, '60-M', which was
equipped with top-secret navigational equipment, he was no stranger to this task, and
he had already seen his best friend and fellow master bomber pilot, Squadron-Leader
Robert Palmer, DFC, shot down in flames over Cologne, for this Palmer was to receive
a posthumous VC. Swales bomber took off 5 minutes ahead of the rest of the group,
but they were no sooner over the target than they were attacked by a Messerschmitt
Bf110, whose fire shattered one engine and holed the fuel tanks. Continuing his bomb
run, Swales was again hit by the night fighter, which knocked out a second engine.
Almost defenceless, he stayed over the target area issuing his aiming instructions until
he was satisfied that the attacked had achieved its purpose, he was determined not to
let any of his crew fall into enemy hands so with a badly damaged aircraft he then
turned for home but his crippled Lancaster steadily lost height. He had twice before
crash landed successfully and may have thought he could do it again, but the blind
flying instruments were knocked out, so finally he ordered his crew to bale out, the last
one to bale out was his friend Dudley Archer , but Swales remained at his controls in
order to give them the best chance of escaping. The aircraft nosed into some high-
tension cables and exploded, the wreckage was strewn across two fields at the village
of Chappelle-aux-Bois on the outskirts of Valenciennes.
Early the next morning the crew gathered at the crash site, in the twisted wreckage of
the cockpit they found the body of their friend and Captain his hands still around the
control column, he had stayed at his post until it was to late to save himself, instead he
chose to save his crew, he was just 5 months short of his 30th birthday. For his selfless
sacrifice, attempting to save the lives of his crew, Edwin Swales was awarded a
posthumous VC on April 24th, 1945 - the only South African Air Force member ever to
receive this supreme honour. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris sent a telegram to
Edwin’s mother soon after, it read: -
"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."
Robert Palmer raiding Cologne. Attacked five times by Luftwaffe fighters, Swales
coolness under fire permitted his gunners to destroy at least one German fighter; and
he was awarded a DFC. On the night of February 23rd/24th, 1945 - his 43rd
operational sortie - Swales was selected as master bomber for a concentrated attack on
Pforzheim near Karlsruhe, Germany, flying Lancaster PB538, '60-M', which was
equipped with top-secret navigational equipment, he was no stranger to this task, and
he had already seen his best friend and fellow master bomber pilot, Squadron-Leader
Robert Palmer, DFC, shot down in flames over Cologne, for this Palmer was to receive
a posthumous VC. Swales bomber took off 5 minutes ahead of the rest of the group,
but they were no sooner over the target than they were attacked by a Messerschmitt
Bf110, whose fire shattered one engine and holed the fuel tanks. Continuing his bomb
run, Swales was again hit by the night fighter, which knocked out a second engine.
Almost defenceless, he stayed over the target area issuing his aiming instructions until
he was satisfied that the attacked had achieved its purpose, he was determined not to
let any of his crew fall into enemy hands so with a badly damaged aircraft he then
turned for home but his crippled Lancaster steadily lost height. He had twice before
crash landed successfully and may have thought he could do it again, but the blind
flying instruments were knocked out, so finally he ordered his crew to bale out, the last
one to bale out was his friend Dudley Archer , but Swales remained at his controls in
order to give them the best chance of escaping. The aircraft nosed into some high-
tension cables and exploded, the wreckage was strewn across two fields at the village
of Chappelle-aux-Bois on the outskirts of Valenciennes.
Early the next morning the crew gathered at the crash site, in the twisted wreckage of
the cockpit they found the body of their friend and Captain his hands still around the
control column, he had stayed at his post until it was to late to save himself, instead he
chose to save his crew, he was just 5 months short of his 30th birthday. For his selfless
sacrifice, attempting to save the lives of his crew, Edwin Swales was awarded a
posthumous VC on April 24th, 1945 - the only South African Air Force member ever to
receive this supreme honour. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris sent a telegram to
Edwin’s mother soon after, it read: -
"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."
Extract from the 5th supplement to the London Gazette of Friday 20th April 1945
The King has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on the under
mentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: -
Captain Edwin Swales, D.F.C (610IV), South African Air Force, No.582 Squadron
(Deceased)
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.
Other sources of information that I researched were: -
Bomber Command Loss Records
Date: 23-Feb-1945 / 24-Feb-1945
Unit: 582 Sqdn Aircraft: Lancaster 111
Serial: PB538 Code: 60:M Target: Pforzheim
Pilot: Swales, Edwin (Ted) Capt VC DFC SAAF (Killed)
Crew: Flight Sergeant G W Bennington DFM, Squadron Leader D P D Archer DSO
DFC, Pilot Officer R A Wheaton RAAF, Flight Sergeant C Dodson DSO DFC, Pilot
Officer A V Goodacre RAAF, Flight Sergeant B Leach, Pilot Officer N Bourne RCAF.
Details: Took off at Little Staughton as Master Bomber. Attacked over the target by an
Me110 (possibly, Hptm Gerhard Friedrich, ll/NJG1) whose fire shattered one engine
and holed the fuel tanks. Attacked again by the fighter, which knocked out a second
engine. Homebound, lost height and eventually ordered the crew to bale out, holding
the aircraft steady as they did so. Hit high-tension cables and exploded at
Valenciennes, before the pilot could escape. Posthumous VC gazetted 24 April 1945,
the only SAAF airman to be so decorated. Buried Leopoldsburg War Cemetery,
Belgium.
The King has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on the under
mentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: -
Captain Edwin Swales, D.F.C (610IV), South African Air Force, No.582 Squadron
(Deceased)
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.
Other sources of information that I researched were: -
Bomber Command Loss Records
Date: 23-Feb-1945 / 24-Feb-1945
Unit: 582 Sqdn Aircraft: Lancaster 111
Serial: PB538 Code: 60:M Target: Pforzheim
Pilot: Swales, Edwin (Ted) Capt VC DFC SAAF (Killed)
Crew: Flight Sergeant G W Bennington DFM, Squadron Leader D P D Archer DSO
DFC, Pilot Officer R A Wheaton RAAF, Flight Sergeant C Dodson DSO DFC, Pilot
Officer A V Goodacre RAAF, Flight Sergeant B Leach, Pilot Officer N Bourne RCAF.
Details: Took off at Little Staughton as Master Bomber. Attacked over the target by an
Me110 (possibly, Hptm Gerhard Friedrich, ll/NJG1) whose fire shattered one engine
and holed the fuel tanks. Attacked again by the fighter, which knocked out a second
engine. Homebound, lost height and eventually ordered the crew to bale out, holding
the aircraft steady as they did so. Hit high-tension cables and exploded at
Valenciennes, before the pilot could escape. Posthumous VC gazetted 24 April 1945,
the only SAAF airman to be so decorated. Buried Leopoldsburg War Cemetery,
Belgium.
| Captain Edwin Swales 4th from right |
| Edwin Swales Medal Group, Johannesburg Museum S.A |
Edwin Swales VC, has been been commemorated in his home City of Durban in many
ways, there is an Edwin Swales V.C. Drive, a double highway connecting two parts of
modern day Durban, there is also an annual Edwin Swales scholarship at Durban High
School, and the Sam Browne belt worn by Edwin in his Natal Mounted Rifle days is
displayed in a case in the High School, Edwin’s medals and uniform are on display in
the Military Museum at Johannesburg. More recently, in 1990, a new branch of the
Bank, where Edwin worked after he left school, now called the First National Bank was
named after him. Edwin Swales V.C. D.F.C. was buried in the War Cemetery at
Leopoldsburg on the Belgium border with Germany.
ways, there is an Edwin Swales V.C. Drive, a double highway connecting two parts of
modern day Durban, there is also an annual Edwin Swales scholarship at Durban High
School, and the Sam Browne belt worn by Edwin in his Natal Mounted Rifle days is
displayed in a case in the High School, Edwin’s medals and uniform are on display in
the Military Museum at Johannesburg. More recently, in 1990, a new branch of the
Bank, where Edwin worked after he left school, now called the First National Bank was
named after him. Edwin Swales V.C. D.F.C. was buried in the War Cemetery at
Leopoldsburg on the Belgium border with Germany.
Medal photographs courtesy of Mr Stephen Hill
1) Victoria Cross (VC) (named)
2) Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) (Dated 1944 on reverse)
3) 1939-45 Star
4) Africa Star
5) France & Germany Star
6) British Defence Medal
7) The War Medal
8) Africa Service Medal (named)
Leopoldsburg photographs courtesy of Mr Graeme Wright, of Canada.
1) Victoria Cross (VC) (named)
2) Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) (Dated 1944 on reverse)
3) 1939-45 Star
4) Africa Star
5) France & Germany Star
6) British Defence Medal
7) The War Medal
8) Africa Service Medal (named)
Leopoldsburg photographs courtesy of Mr Graeme Wright, of Canada.
Major Edwin Swales VC. DFC.
(Grave at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery)
(Grave at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery)