Edwin (Ted) Essery Swales was born in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, to a farming family from the Heatonville District, on 3 July 1915. After the death of his father during the influenza epidemic of 1918 to 1919, the family moved to Durban. Upon leaving school, Swales found employment with Barclays Bank.
He also joined the Natal Mounted Rifles, a citizen force regiment, and rose to the rank of sergeant major.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Swales went up north with his regiment and saw action in Kenya, Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and in the North African desert.
In January 1942, he was accepted into the South African Air Force, and trained at Kimberley.
In August 1943, Swales was seconded to the Royal Air Force (RAF), while retaining his South African Air Force uniform and rank. Following a successful period of training in England at RAF Little Rissington in Gloucestershire, he was assigned to fly heavy bombers.
His flying ability was of such a high standard that he was posted to the elite Pathfinder Group attached to 582 Squadron and based at Little Staughton in Bedfordshire.
On bombing raids, the Pathfinders went in first to light up the target with flares, giving the main force a precise point to aim at and so increasing their accuracy. Some Pathfinder squadrons were equipped with the fast, unarmed, twin-engine De Havilland Mosquito. Others, like the one Swales joined, flew four-engine Avro Lancasters.
The Pathfinders usually accepted only experienced pilots who had completed a full tour of operations on bombers. Swales had never spent any time as a bomber pilot; he went straight into the Pathfinders, a very rare occurrence indeed.
COLOGNE
Denne historien er fra September 20, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra September 20, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
