James Hamilton Swain DSO, RN
| Born | 10 May 1905 | ||
| Died | 31 Mar 1970 | (64) |
| Ranks
Retired: 17 Sep 1948 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for James Hamilton Swain, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMAS Waterhen (D 22) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 30 Aug 1939 | 30 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Penn (G 77) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 2 Dec 1941 | Nov 1943 |
Career information
Lt.Cdr James Hamilton Swain joined the Church of Ireland and became Canon of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin 1969, Rector of Maghera Union 1953-1970. He was married to Elizabeth Louisa Swain who died in 1984.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMAS Waterhen (D 22)
29 Jun 1941 (position 32.15, 25.20)
HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) sailed from Tobruk Roads heading Alexandria with HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, RN) carrying soldiers of the 6th (Australian) Division.
At 1945 hrs of 29 June the ships were off Sollum and came under attack of 19 Ju-87s, of which 12 were German machines from I/St.G.1 and 7 Italian of the 239th Dive-bombing Sqn (Capt. Giuseppe Cenni).
It was the latter which scored on Waterhen, the plane piloted by Maresciallo (Chief W.O.) Ennio Tarantola, placing his 500-kg (1100 lb) bomb on the stern of the destroyer. The detonation caused the immediate flooding of the engine and boiler rooms. The situation appeared desperate from the onset and Waterhen was abandoned, the entire crew (there were no dead) being taken aboard Defender.
In the same area operated the Italian submarine Tembien, which witnessed the attack and attempted to close the cripple to delivered a coup de grace but was detected by Defender and forced to fire blindly, missing the target.
Waterhen finally capsized and sank at 0150 that night (30 June), 7 nautical miles north of Sidi el-Barrani in position 32°15'N, 25°20'E.
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