Hi All Hope you are all well. I am looking into a friends family and there were 5 brothers all who served in WW1.. But one, their great Grandfather also continued in service right through WW2. Documents I have tracked down so far mention he was in the Royal Corps of Signals and on 14/7/42 is noted as Chief Signal Officer. Family tell of him been in Burma with his men when it was about to fall to the Japanese, they burned everything, trucks, kit etc and made the long march out to India... He was very thin an ill upon his return to the Uk and took a long time to recover but apparently continued to serve throughout the war and beyond. I am currently ordering his death certificate and service records but thought to put some details on here should his details ring any bells or anyone have any advice where to look for details of those involved in Burma and the walk to India etc.. Eugene Valentine Francis Macswiney 3/8/1890 to Sept 1975 Royal Corps of Signals Chief Signal officer . 14/7/1942 Also promotion records listing him as Lt Col and Captain Served in India and Burma Any tips greatly appreciated while we await service records etc With Thanks Andy
Hi What were the dates of his promotions and what rank was he at the time of the retreat from Burma? Why don't you post the documents you have found so far as that will help us to get the maximum out of them and may be able to add to your existing knowledge.
Details on his headstone Cheshire Regt 1914-21 Royal Signals 1921-45 Commissioned into 3rd Battalion The Cheshire Regt Lg 9th October 1914 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28932/page/8046/data.pdf Kyle
Odd I posted his three brothers details who were killed and the post has disappeared ? Ah well try again? Private Brisco Francis Macswiney Death: Jun. 16, 1915 Unit;-. 1st/10th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment). 16th June 1915. Age 30. Son of Lt. Col. Eugene Valentine MacSwiney (R.A.M.C.) and Floren Commemorated;- Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Ypres (Ieper) Bombardier Denis Quin MacSwiney Death: Mar. 20, 1916 Service No: 50762 Age: 29 Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery, 81st Bty. 5th Bde. Son of Lt.-col. E. V. and Florence Mary Macswiney, of 7, Arnside Rd. Oxton, Birkenhead. Eight years' service (six in India). Left India with the Lahore Division, and fought in France, 1914. Born at Aldershot. Burial: Brandhoek Military Cemetery Ypres (Ieper) Arrondissement Ieper West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen), Belgium Plot: I. J. 10. Captain Joseph Ray MacSWINEY MC Birth: 1892 Birkenhead Metropolitan Borough of Wirral Merseyside, England Death: Nov. 2, 1918 Oswestry Shropshire Unitary Authority Shropshire, England The King's (Liverpool Regiment) Liverpool Scottish Burial: Flaybrick Hill Cemetery Merseyside, England Plot: 2. R.C. 23. Kyle
Thanks for the photos, i have been researching all 5 brothers and the 3 who died, lots of photos of each. just finishing it off when i discovered his service in WW2!
Where did the colour photo come from of him? I am currently getting the HQ ones converted to colour now by a friend who is an expert in military photo conversions. Thanks
In records most of his promotions are WW1 but noted for 39-45 are.. 11.1.20 Captain India 1.4.39 Lt Col
E. V. F. MacSwiney (Regimental number 9721) Ches. R.—2nd Lt. E. V. F. MacSwiney to be Lt. 1st July 1917.;- SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 29 AUGUST, 1919 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31528/supplement/10959/data.pdf Lieutenant to Captain 9th Apr. 1924.;- THE LONDON GAZETTE, 26 SEPTEMBER, 1924. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32977/page/7040/data.pdf Captain granted Regimental seniority 28 OCTOBER, 1926.;- London Gazette 29 OCTOBER, 1926. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33216/page/6887/data.pdf Captain to Major 1st Apr. 1935:— London Gazette 2 APRIL, 1935 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34147/page/2234/data.pdf The undermentioned Lt.-Cols., on completion of tenure of service will serve as Regimental. Lt.-Cols.to remain on full pay (supernumerary), 1st Apr. 1942: — SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 31 MARCH, 1942 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35505/supplement/1438/data.pdf Kyle
Andy, Had a quick search through Find My Past newspaper archive. Not much I'm afraid. Attached are three excerpts covering the death of Eugene's father, Eugene's marriage notification and his commission in 1915.
Thanks, great links. interesting reading and gazette records... Still struggling to find anything on his time in Burma anywhere?
Andy There is an entry in the Indian Army List for July 1942. Lt. Colonel E.V.F. MacSwiney. Date of first commission: 10th July 1915. Royal Signals. Promoted to Lt. Colonel 1st April 1939. Serving as Chief Signals Officer, Baluchistan District. Indian element of service 19 years 314 days. Steve
From the British Army List Half Yearly Supplement January 1942: Born 3rd August 1890 Mobilised Special Reserve to 21st August 1917 - 3 years 7 days Commissioned from the Special reserve to the Cheshire Regiment as 2nd Lt. 10th July 1915 (seniority from 22nd August 1917) Promoted to Lt. 1st July 1917 Served with the Army Signals Service from 6th March 1919 [Corps of Signals from 28th June 1920; Royal Corps of Signals from 5th August 1920] Lt., Royal Signals 16th May 1923 Promoted to Captain 9th April 1924 (Regimental Seniority from 11th January 1920) Promoted to Major 1st April 1923 Lieutenant Colonel 1st April 1939 Served as Adjutant, Territorial Army 3rd December 1927 to 2nd December 1931 WW1 Service: France & Belgium 19th March 1915 - 29th April 1915 Mesopotamia 24th September 1915 - 20th August 1916 Awarded 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal
Indian Army List October 1943: Central Command, Attached to the Staff, Signals: Chief Signals Officer, Temporary Colonel MacSwiney Date of appointment 13th July 1942
Foe some personal accounts about the trek out of Burma, to give a general background, see the FIBIS Fibiwiki page Burma, section Trek Out of Burma in 1942 Burma - FIBIwiki Cheers Maureen
