MAJOR EDWIN SWALES VC, DFC. – AT DURBAN HIGH SCHOOL

Note: The construction of the memorial was organised by David Scholtz. This is his story:-
Edwin Swales was born in South Africa in 1915 and educated at Durban High School.  For some years before the outbreak of the Second World War he did his active citizen force training in the Natal Mounted Rifles.  The day after the Second World War broke out Swales joined the NMR.  In January 1942 he was selected for training in the South African Air Force.  He received his “wings” in June 1943.  Early in 1944 he was seconded to the Royal Air Force and served in Bomber Command, which carried out bombing raids over Germany in Lancaster bombers.  In June 1944 Swales was transferred to the Pathfinder Squadron of the RAF and was awarded the DFC on 22 February 1945 for his services in this unit.

In Ian Uys’ book For Valour at p352 he gives the following account of the bombing raid on 23 February 1945 as a result of which Swales was awarded a posthumous VC for his gallantry:

“On February 23 he led a raid on Pforzheim, near Karlsruhe.  His Lancaster aircraft, equipped with top-secret navigational equipment, took off five minutes ahead of the other bombers.  He was due to reach the target area at midnight, but was subjected to anti-aircraft fire long before then.

 When his aircraft reached the target area, it was attacked by an enemy fighter and one of the engines was put out of action.  The guns in the rear turret jammed, but Swales continued circling the area issuing aiming instructions to the bombers making their run-ins.  Again the fighter attacked, this time putting another engine out of action.  Swales nursed his crippled and almost defenceless aircraft, all the time issuing precise bombing instructions until he was satisfied that the attack had succeeded.

 Swales was determined not to let his aircraft and crew fall into enemy hands.  Despite the drastically reduced airspeed which made it extremely difficult to keep the wallowing aircraft in the air, Swales set a course for base.  As soon as they reached friendly territory, Swales realised that the aircraft could not stay airborne much longer.  It had steadily been losing height, and it required all his skill and exertions to keep the bucking aircraft from spiralling to earth.  He ordered his crew to bale out, and kept the aircraft steady until the last of his crew had parachuted through the escape hatch.  Hardly had the last man jumped than the stricken Lancaster plummeted to the earth.  Swales was found dead at the controls, still strapped into his seat.”

Swales was one of 4 South Africans to win the Victoria Cross for their gallantry during the Second World War.

Shortly after the end of the War a new road was constructed in Durban.  The road was named “Edwin Swales VC Drive” in honour of Durban’s native son.  Swales’ mother cut the ribbon for the opening of the road.

In early 2009 the Durban City Council decided to rename Edwin Swales VC Drive as “Solomon Mahlangu Drive“.  Solomon Mahlangu was a young man who had been charged with acts of terrorism, was found guilty and sentenced to death.  He had grown up in Mamelodi outside Pretoria and had no connection with Durban.

Many of the citizens of Durban were outraged by the decision to rename Edwin Swales VC Drive.  My friends and I decided that, since we would not be able to prevent the re-naming of the road, we should rather commemorate Edwin Swales by erecting a memorial to him in the courtyard of Durban High School and another at the headquarters of his old Regiment, the Natal Mounted Rifles.  Both Durban High School and the NMR readily agreed to our suggestions.  Edwin Swales’ niece, Dr Edwina Ward, worked closely with us on the project.

We then proceeded to erect a very fitting granite memorial in the courtyard of Durban High School, which  was engraved with the Union of South Africa Defence Force and VC emblems, together with the final paragraph of the citation for Swales’ VC.  This paragraph read as follows:

“Intrepid in attack, courageous in the face of danger, he did his duty to the last, giving his life that his comrades might live.”

We also erected a smaller granite memorial at the headquarters of the NMR, which contained the same inscriptions.

We contacted the head of the South African Air Force, General Carlo Gagiano, and asked whether he would be prepared to unveil the memorials on Remembrance Day 11 November 2009, together with Dr Edwina Ward.  General Gagiano readily agreed.

On the appointed day General Gagiano flew down to the Air Force base in Durban from where he was brought by helicopter to the sports field of Durban High School.  He was led into the courtyard by a piper.  The memorial was draped with the current flag of the South African Air Force.  A fitting tribute was then paid by General Gagiano to Edwin Swales.  The General noted that the motto of the S.A. Air Force is “We Serve”.  General Gagiano and Dr. Ward then unveiled the memorial while the Last Post was played.  The occasion was very moving.

The procession then moved to the headquarters of the NMR where the second memorial was also unveiled by General Gagiano and Dr. Ward.

The entire day was a memorable experience for everyone who was involved with the project.