Edwin Swale DFC and bar, CBE, OBE

[Tazzy2]

This man is a listed WW1 ace and was my mothers cousin. (In WWII he was a wing commander working on the enigma decrypts)

I know he was in the RNAS and I think the squadron was 10N, I would be grateful for any information on him as I am trying to trace his career.

If anyone has any photographs I would love to see them.

[R Gannon]

Tazzy

Off the cuff I think 10 Naval / 210 Sqn is correct. A short biog and score listing is in Grub St's Above the Trenches. Will provide details if you cannot source this work.

Cheers Russ

G'day Tazzy2,

I suggest that you visit the Great War Forum and post this in the War in the Air section as the Author of Naval 10 Mike Westrop visits there quite frequently.

Regards,

Andrew

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Bonjour Tazzy2!

Edwin Swale was one of the most successful pilots to fly with Naval 10 / 210 Squadron ultimately being credit with 12 destroyed and 5 out of control for a total of 17 victories which was the most of any pilot in the unit flying the Sopwith Camel.

Swale, who was born on the 28th of June 1899, in Chesterfield, joined the Royal Naval Air Service in August 1917 and, following a posting for mere days with Naval 12, was assigned to Naval 10 on March 21 1918 the very day that the offensives by the German armies began. When the air services amalgamated the squadron became 210 and Swale was to remain with the unit until the 21st of October upon which assignment to Home Establishment came through.

A first claim for an aircraft destroyed by Swale was recognized for the 30th of May, being, a Pfalz DIII near Armentieres while flying Camel D3392. A final victory was noted on the 8th of October over a Fokker DVII in the vicinity of Roulers when piloting Camel D3332. In total, victories were claimed and credited in six different Camels; D3392, D9613, D9675, E4406, D3332, F3116.

Note that on the 11th of May Swale made a forced landing in fog while flying D3392 and E4406 was damaged by anti aircraft fire on the 17th of September when piloted by Swale.

Swale was eventually named as the commander of A Flight and was awarded the Distinguish Flying Cross (D.F.C.) which was gazetted on the 2nd of November and a Bar that was gazetted on the 3rd of December.

You may be well aware of life after The Great War which included gliding with the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club and service in the later conflict as a Wing Commander with involvement with the Ultra code work and the 2nd Tactical Air Force. Swale was thrice mentioned in dispatches. He continued with gliding for several years and was made an Officer of the British Empire (O.B.E.) and a Commander of the British Empire (C.B.E.).

Swale was also active in politics and served on the council of Chesterfield between 1927 and 1933 and between 1946 and 1971, for a time, as Mayor of the community.

Edwin Swale died in 1978 having done much for community and nation.

By the way, you have another distinguished relative as son Duncan Swale flew in Mosquitos in The Second World War and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.)

Most of this information was gleaned from Sopwith Camel Aces of World War 1 by Franks (which includes a photograph of Swale and a profile of Camel D3332 when flown by Swale), Above The Trenches by Shores, Franks, Guest, The Camel File by Sturtivant, Page, A History Of No.10 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service In World War I by Westrop: all excellent books!

Salut!
Kirk

[Tazzy2]

Thank you very much I will follow up your suggestions and source the books.

[Frank_Olynyk]

Tazzy2,
Can you supply the actual date and place of death for Edwin Swale? The bio entry here on the Aerodrome has only August 1978.

Frank.

[Tazzy2]

19th July 1978

Think was Chesterfield as lived in the family house on Hady Hill,Chesterfield but will check death certificate when get as have ordered it.

Memorial plaque on parents grave in Spital Cemetery, Spital, Chesterfield.

[josquin]

Tazzy,

The free registry for Births, Marriages, and Deaths for England & Wales
states that Edwin Swale's death was registered at the registry office
at Chesterfield, Derbyshire. It is likely that Chesterfield was the place
of death if he was living at Hady Hill. The death registry confirms his
birthdate as 28 June 1899. As you probably know, as you would have
needed this to order a death certificate, the death record can be found
in volume 6, page 0400. There is an excellent formal picture of Edwin
Swale on page 65 of Norman Franks' "British and American Aces: The
Pictorial Record" (2005, Schiffer). The 1901 Census for England confirms
Chesterfield as his birthplace and lists his parents as Arthur W. & Emmeline
Swale; his father, 30 years of age in 1901, was a "sailor cutter" who was
born at Kaghley, Yorkshire; his mother, 28, was born at Chesterfield.
The Census also lists a brother, Arthur Duncan Swale, who was 3 years
old in 1901. The marriage index lists Edwin Swale's wife's surname as "Asquith." You know all of this, but I listed it for the Forum members
Your information about his service in 1939-45 was an important addition
to wshat we know about him.
Regards

Josquin

[Tazzy2]

Arthur was also mayor of Chesterfield and it was he who founded the buisness Edwin worked in after the war and later ran.

His wife was Dorothy Asquith who he became engaged to whilst on leave and married in 1921.

His brother Arthur Duncan Swale was a 2nd Lieut with the 6th Sherwood Foresters and died of wounds, (while attatched to the 11th battalion), the day Edwin's DFC bar was gazetted.

[Cupcake_xox]

can you tell me any more about Edwin Swale because i have to do a history project on him and would like to know more.
Thanks
Honi
xox