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1899 Jul 12. Born in Demerara, British Guiana, I think his father was a Colonel Swain, but have not established that. He was a cousin of Claude de Pina Swain
Educated at Horsham Grammar School and at Allan Glen's, Glasgow.
1911 census at The Grammar School , Hurst Road, Horsham (plus brother Gerald Arthur)
1915 Jun 14. Lands in France
1917 May 26. Machine Gun Corps. The undermentioned cadets to be temp. 2nd Lts.Oswald Bertie Swain
1918 Nov 26. The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. Lts.: — O B. Swain
1919 Nov 16. Temp. Lt. O. B. Swain relinquishes his commission on completion of service, and retains the rank of Lt
1920 Oct 18. Joined ADRIC with service no 740. Section Leader in G Coy
1921 Feb 8. Posted to Depot and promoted Platoon Commander.
1921 Feb 28 He is a DI in USC ib Londonderry, mentioned as a witness in a court case about a death in Rosslea
1922 Jan . Discharged on demobilisation of ADRIC ? No date given in Alphabetic register.
1922 he joined the R.A.F. with a short-service commission
1923 Mar 2. The undermentioned Pilot Officers on probation are confirmed in rank: Oswald Bertie Swain
1924 promoted to flying officer
1925 Marries at Ipswich to Irene Edith Clarissa Jane Rodwell
1926 Permanent commission.
1928 Daughter born. Valerie Edith Swain Daughter of Oswald Bertie Swain and Irene Edith Swain. Born: 12/3/1928. Baptised: 24/6/1928. Address: Rosewick Cottage, Murree Profession: Flying Officer R. A. F
1929 Promoted flight lieutenant
1930 May 5. Arrives UK from Karachi with wife and children
1933 Richard Swain born - he also died with his parents
1936 Promoted squadron leader in 1936.
1937 he was appointed to the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry.
1939 Register. Living at 211 Great North Way , Hendon with wife Irene E C
1940 Jan 2. Wing Commanders to be Group Captains. Oswald Bertie SWAIN (17038).
1940 Sep 22. R.A.F. Killed as a Wing-Commander in WW2 CWGC . Buried at Golders Green Crematorium. Son of Arthur Claude and Irene Swain, of Ealing: husband of Irene Edith Clarissa Jane Swain, of Hendon, who was killed in the same incident, of British Guiana. Died at 211 Great North Way which was their home. I assume it was an air raid, Also in the same house their son Richard aged 6 died.
Wing Commander Oswald Bertie Swain, killed on active service, was born in Demerara, British Guiana, 41 years ago, and educated at Horsham Grammar School and at Allan Glen's, Glasgow. He served in the Army throughout the War of 1914-18 in The Scottish Rifles, T.F., and the Machine Gun Corps. In 1922 he joined the R.A.F. with a short-service commission for which a permanent commission was substituted in 1926. He was promoted to flying officer in 1924, flight lieutenant in 1929, and squadron leader in 1936. In addition to being an armament specialist, he had qualified at the R.A.F. Staff College and as a flying instructor, and had served on armament, staff, and flying duties at various home stations and in India. In 1937 he was appointed to the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry.
