Looking for a particular citation I came across a Brigadier awarded a CBE for leading the Swayne Mission- Anyone heard of it before? Colonel T/Brigadier John George des Reaux Swayne Valuable services in charge of Swayne Mission. Recommended by C-in-C BEF 11.7.40 I suspect this maybe one of the Ad-Hoc units like those put together call Pol Force and Mac Force for example. Cheers for any info Andy
It gets a mention in The War in France and Flanders: HyperWar: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940 [Chapter XVII] Not very informative though.
It appears the Mission was a liaison team of sorts. HyperWar: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940 [Chapter II] General Headquarters was opened near Arras, with its various branches dispersed in neighbouring villages and in the town. For liaison with our Ally a military mission under Major-General Sir Richard Howard-Vyse was appointed to represent the Chief of the Imperial General Staff at the General Headquarters of the French Supreme Commander, General Gamelin. A second mission under Brigadier J. G. des R. Swayne was appointed to represent the British Commander-in-Chief at the Headquarters of General Georges, commanding the French North-East Theatre of Operations in which was included the British Expeditionary Force.[5] Later, after Belgium was attacked, a mission to the Belgian Army Headquarters under Major-General H. Needham was appointed to keep the War Office informed of the Belgian situation and intentions and to repeat information acquired to the British Commander-in-Chief.[6] As with the custom at the time, these missions will be referred to as 'the Howard-Vyse Mission', 'the Swayne Mission' and 'the Needham Mission'. Major-General H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester was appointed Chief Liaison Officer on Lord Gort's Staff.
