William "Buster" Swan DCM RIP

Adrian Roberts · Jan 15, 2009

Some men got a VC for actions like this:

William 'Buster' Swan - Telegraph

William 'Buster' Swan, who has died aged 88, won an immediate Distinguished Conduct Medal as a sergeant in the Essex Regiment during some of the fiercest fighting of the Italian campaign.

After the crossing of the Sangro river just before Christmas 1943, Swan commanded the leading platoon in an attack on the village of Villa Grande, near Ortona, which was barring the Allied advance. Unknown to the 5th Essex, this position was defended by a German 1st Parachute Division determined to fight to the end.

A covering party for Swan reached some outhouses about 100 yards from the village, unaware that these were their objective, and then pushed on to encounter fierce defensive fire. Swan's Z Company was then caught in the open between the outhouses and the village and took many casualties before being pinned down as the ground was swept by enemy machine guns firing on fixed lines.

On reaching the village after dark he and his men cleared Germans from 12 buildings during the course of the night – "a most unpleasant time", according to the regimental history. When the enemy counterattacked, Swan's platoon was reduced to five men beside himself. But he still managed to break out of his position to inflict heavy casualties as he rejoined his battalion.

The following day, when the Essex made a renewed assault on the village, Swan insisted on leading his platoon in person. With total disregard for his own safety he defied intense grenade and mortar fire to prevail in the fiercest hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy. Few of the Germans surrendered, and those that did were the wounded.

Once his objective had been achieved, Swan found his new position surrounded on three sides. He quickly organised it for defence, consolidating the gains of the night while still under heavy fire. After leading his platoon for five days of continuous action he was severely wounded, on Boxing Day.

The slaughter had been such that at noon on Christmas Day the Germans raised a Red Cross flag to allow the wounded to be evacuated.

Swan's citation declares that he was an inspiration to all who saw him because of his determination and powers of leadership.

The elder of a builder's two sons, William John Swan, known as "Buster", was born on September 14 1920 at Saffron Walden, Essex. He did well at primary school and passed a scholarship to go to Newport grammar school, but, to help the family out, he gave it up to become a delivery boy with a fruit-and-vegetable merchant named Frank Bacon.

In November 1937 young Bill joined the 5th Battalion of the Essex Regiment TA. He went to Egypt and the Middle East before finally seeing action in three major Italian battles, which cost the Essex more than 500 casualties in 1943.

Swan was discharged in 1947. He briefly rejoined his old employer, then became a postman before becoming a security officer with the engineering firm, Ciba-Geigy, from which he retired after 20 years. From 1952 until 1955 Swan held a commission as a second lieutenant in the TA, when he was much valued as an instructor in the cadet force.

He enjoyed walking his dog and tending his garden. Despite his time in action, he considered meeting the King to receive his DCM the most terrifying experience of his life.

To the end of his days he preferred to salute those he met rather than say goodbye.

Buster Swan married, in 1947, Rose Gale, who predeceased him, and is survived by a daughter. He died on November 24.
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Antipodean Andy · Jan 15, 2009

A determined man who appears to have led a very peaceful post-war life. RIP.

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