Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 1 Commando, 1st Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government

Awarded on:

July 5th, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Chariot

"On 28 March 1942, during the Commando Raid at ST. NAZAIRE, France, Lieut. Swayne was in command of a Demolition party on board a Motor Launch. Due to the intense fire from the land, it was impossible for this Motor Launch to land the military personnel, and the Naval Commander, after making several attempts, proceeded to withdraw from the River Loire. When they had proceeded some distance, they were engaged at very close range by a German Torpedo Boat.

Lieut. Swayne manned all the light automatics under his command, and controlled continuous fire on the enemy vessel. A request to surrender made by the German Naval Commander was totally disregarded and in spite of intense fire from the enemy Torpedo Boat during which many were killed and wounded, the Motor Launch continued to engage the enemy.

After the majority of the naval personnel had been either killed or wounded, Lieut. Swayne still kept his men fighting, even up to the point when the Torpedo Boat attempted to ram the Motor Launch.

It was only when all effective fire power on board the launch had been wiped out, that with a handful of men still alive, Lieut. Swayne was forced to surrender to the German vessel.

His leadership and his personal disregard for danger was a fine example to those men on board who manned the light automatics in face of far heavier fire power."