1939-45 Star; France & Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service Medal clasps Palestine 1945-48, Malaya (14441131 CPL. R.D. SWINDELL. S.STAFFORDS.)
His detailed reminiscences were published by the BBC - a copy is included.
Raymond Derek Swindell was born in Leicester on 20 January 1926. According to the 1939 Register he was "at school," living with his parents at 29 Lorrimer Road, Leicester. He first enlisted on 11 October 1943, with the 1/Leicestershire Regiment on, transferring to the 5th Wiltshire Regiment with who he was Wounded in Action on 13 February 1945. A summary of the 5th Wilts' movements during January/February 1945 is as follows:
"On the 11th January both battalions were sent to the Geilenkirchen section where they took part in a an attack on the 22nd. Both battalions attacked in Kangaroos, armoured troop carriers. After a lot of shelling they took the village of Straeten, with some of the men at such close quarters they were firing from the hip.Many prisoners were taken.
On the 8th February the battalions were in Nijmegen and from there they led the assault on Cleve where they took part in a major battle. After capturing the town they moved to high ground and dug in countering a number of attacks from the 115 and 116 Panzer divisions."
It was in the above action that Swindell was wounded.
He subsequently transferred to the South Staffordshire Regiment serving in Palestine and Malaya with them. Following hid discharge from the army he lived in Birmingham before relocating to North Wales and then on to Northumberland where he passed away on 6 June 2013.
Between June 2003 and January 2006 the BBC approached the public to contribute their memories of WWII to a website - "Our People's War". This archive comprises 47 000 stories including Swindell's contribution "15 Years in Uniform" which he contributed on 3 January 2006.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with some research.
