Lest we forget: SWYNNERTON, Jeremy – North Staffordshire Regt – Nigeria Regt 3rd Bn – Staffordshire Regt

Surname: Swynnerton
First Name: Jeremy
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Awards: OBE
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Permanent Staff Location: Shorncliffe
Permanent Staff Service Date: 1967-69
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Permanent Staff Rank: Lt Colonel
Regiment: North Staffordshire Regt - Nigeria Regt 3rd Bn - Staffordshire Regt
Regular Service Date: 1945-85
Retirement Rank: Colonel
Age: 84
Date of Death: 2011 November 3
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From Pete Short – It is with deep regret that I have to announce the death of Colonel Jeremy Swynnerton who died in the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton on Thursday 3rd November, aged 84. He had not been well for some time.
Jeremy Swynnerton was born in Camberley on the 4th May 1927 and was the elder son of Major General C.R.A. Swynnerton CB, DSO, who was Colonel of The North Staffordshire Regt from 1953–58. The Swynnertons are a well known North Staffordshire family, which traces its County connections through nine centuries.
He was educated at Wellington College and joined the Army in 1945 and was commissioned the following year into The North Staffordshire Regt and joined the 1st Bn in India the following year. After serving in Nigeria as ADC to the GOC and with 3rd Bn, The Nigeria Regt, he rejoined the 1st North Staffords in Fayid and was with them in Trieste, Korea and Hong Kong. His service continued with postings as Adjutant, to the Mercian Brigade, Eastern Command in Colchester, New College Sandhurst. After the amalgamation he was OC C Coy in Kenya and Colchester and Bn 21C in Kenya and Dover. During the Borneo Confrontation, Jeremy served as Brigade Major 99 Gurkha Infantry Brigade. In 1967 he was promoted and set up and Commanded the Junior Infantry Bn in Shorncliffe, for which he received the OBE. In February 1972 he was promoted to Colonel and was posted as Deputy Commander 39 Infantry Brigade in Belfast, during the height of the troubles. His next postings were to Greenwich and Singapore; he was the last British Officer to serve there and handed over to the Singapore Government on 31st March 1976. His final posting was at the Ministry of Defence. Colonel Swynnerton was Colonel of The Staffordshire Regt from 1977–85. His period of tenure included the Belize deployment, two Northern Ireland tours and the Presentation of New Colours in 1983. There are very few people who served between 1945 and 1985 who will not have come across him.
I became his radio operator not long after joining the bn, he was well respected and very down to earth, funny and not a bad cook either!
RIP Sir.

From Ray Ironmonger – As soon as I saw The name on the forum I dreaded what the news would be. So we have lost another great personality, a dam good soldier, a great personality who you could talk to as a real friend. I had the privilege of being Col Jeremy’s CSM in Kenya, we formed a good team both sharing the same style of humour and military standards.
One often (in times like these) reflect on what stands out in personal memories, mine recalls shortly after the amalgamation between the South & North Staffords, intense rivals even to sharing the same depot at Lichfield. It was an inter unit boxing competition (I forget who against) A good evenings entertainment really brought to a head when Sam Settle our RSM (obviously in a forgetful mood) loudly announced that the winner of the evenings boxing was ……….The 1st Bn The North Staffordshire Regt!!
I was a judge at this event, and had a clear view of what happened after the RSM’s slip up, Col Jeremy and all the ex North Officers shouted hurrah! throwing their programmes in the air followed by loud laughter that took some time to quieten down. I still recall with great amusement of that night.
I have many sweet and happy memories of dear friends who are now not with us, who contributed to my life as a soldier, in fact some of you are lads are included.
Col Jeremy, Sir, you are in my special list.