SWANN, Michael Stephen


No.5837855, Bandsman, Michael Stephen SWANN
Aged 18


1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 30th September 1949


Born in Bury St. Edmunds on 21st December 1930 (1st qtr 1931 Bury St.Edmunds 4a:1482), son of Spencer Frederick and Frances Annie Cooper SWANN (née COBB).

In the 1939 register he was at 63 Guildhall Street, Bury St.Edmunds. Father [26-8-1901] and Cavenham born, was an LNER permanent way lengthman, mother [9-1-1899] born Dennington. There is one closed entry, possibly his brother Noel.





The Bury Free Press reported on 7th October 1949 :-
""Bandsman Michael Swann, 18 years old son of Mr.and Mrs. S.F.Swann of 63 Guildhall Street, Bury St.Edmunds who had died from injuries sustained in operations against the bandits in Malaya while serving with the 1st Battalion the Suffolk Regiment. His parents were notified by the War Office last weekend. Michael was head choir boy at the Cathedral and often sang at local concerts. After being educated at the Feoffment and Silver Jubilee School, he joined the Suffolk Regiment Band in 1945 at the age of 14.
His ambition was to become a bandmaster. After going to Palestine with the regiment for a year, he returned to this country as a pupil of the Army School of Music at Kneller hall, where he passed out with a certificate showing exceptional proficiency as a player of the French horn. He had hoped to return to Kneller Hall later on in his career to train as a band master.
Leaving the Army School of Music, Bandsman Swann sailed for Greece with the regiment last January. From there they went straight to Malaya in April. The last news his family received from him was that the band had left their ordinary vocation to take part in an all out six weeks drive against the bandits. Ten days later he died from wounds."





The article on 21st October is at variance with other sources. In an obituary on the "Friends of the Suffolks" website https://www.friendsofthesuffolkregiment.org/2015-archive.html (obituary of another bandsman, Dave Arthur) records the following
"Later that year in Malaya when the Battalion were short of men for active patrolling, the Band boys were granted permission to go out on patrol against the communist terrorists. Although only just 18 years old (the requirement was still 19 years old for active service), their services were invaluable at a time when the Battalion was over-stretched. However after just a few days on operations, a patrol of C Company operating in the Broga area, were ambushed by terrorists, resulting in the death of 18 year old Bandsman, Micky Swann. He was one of the five who joined with Dave - his number being three away, 5837855. Swann's death left a profound affect on the other four members of the intake. An immediate embargo was placed upon using the Band for operations and the Boys never went out on patrol again.(The ambush was on 28 September)"


photo from www.findagrave.com



photo C.W.G.C.


Michael Swann is buried in Cheras Road Christian Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya grave 30:960

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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