The memorial plaque to Corporal Douglas Swindells MM is mounted on the war memorial.
The plaque is inscribed as follows;
'CORPORAL DOUGLAS SWINDELLS MM
SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT
KILLED IN ACTION
OMAN 1958'
"Corporal 22221312, Douglas SWINDELLS, M.M. Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridges Own) attached 22 Special Air Service Regiment., killed in action 26th November 1958 aged 31 in Oman. he is buried in New Eastern Cove, Khorjabber, Muscat, Oman
London Gazette, 30th September 1958 Military Medal
Corporal Douglas SWINDELLS, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridges Own) attached 22 Special Air Service Regiment.
For courage and devotion to duty during a series of engagements with jungle terrorists. He has been an outstanding patrol commander.
This memorial plaque is part of Congleton Cenotaph, Lawton, Street, Congleton, Cheshire." Source: (
visit link) (
visit link)
"SURNAME
Swindells
FORENAME
Douglas (Duke)
UNIT
D Squadron (19 Troop)
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
22221321
DATE OF DEATH
26th November 1958
AGE
31
GRAVESITE
New Eastern Cove,Khorjabber,Muscat,Oman Section 18 Grave 18
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Middlesex Regiment
born 26.8.1927
award M.M.
KIA Oman (shot by sniper)" SOURCE: (
visit link)
A report in the Warrington Guardian on 13th May 2005 about Douglas Swindells reads as follows;
"Recognition at last for SAS hero Douglas
SAS soldier Douglas Swindells has won a permanent place on his home town's military roll of honour.
Cpl Swindells received a posthumous Military Medal for bravery in the field during service in Malaya.
He was killed by a sniper in 1958 while helping to protect oil fields in Oman from terrorists.
His parents were presented with the Military Medal by the Queen Mother, and Cpl Swindells was buried in the Persian Gulf.
The Congleton branch of the Royal British Legion believed Cpl Swindells' name should be added to those on the town's war memorial in Lawton Street.
As a result of its efforts a plaque paid for by Congleton Town Council has been added to the memorial 47 years on from the death of one of the town's military heroes.
Cpl Swindells' brother and sister John and Beryl attended a service at the memorial to mark the addition of the plaque.
"The plaque is official recognition for Douglas in Congleton after 47 years," said John, who lives in Tall Ash Avenue, Congleton.
"We have never seen his grave, and hope to go out to Oman some time."
Beryl Machin lives in Coronation Road, Congleton, and was very pleased with the plaque.
"It is beautiful, and it means we have somewhere to go now to remember our brother," she said.
Cpl Swindells was in the Middlesex Regiment, and was killed at the age of 32.
He has two other brothers, Stuart, who lives in Congleton, and Elmer, from Biddulph." SOURCE: (
visit link)