Sergeant Dennis Swindle Royal Military Police and Special Constabulary
The Man Dennis Swindle was born on Wednesday 8th May 1929 in Cockermouth, Cumbria, son of John an Insurance Agent and Sarah Elizabeth J nee Harper, he had one brother, Kenneth born in 1930.
Following his education Dennis became a Joiner and his brother Kenneth a builder, possibly working together.
In about 1947 Dennis would have been called up for his National Service and during the third quarter of 1953 married Pamela Fletcher in Willesden, London having two sons, Colin Stephen born in 1954 and Clive Alan 1960.
Policing was clearly in Dennis’s blood as in about 1955 at about the end of his part time Army service, he either joined or transferred to the Royal Military Police Army, Emergency Reserve as a Corporal with service number 22372866. He also saw service in the Cumberland Special Constabulary as a Sergeant, being awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Army emergency Reserve’ in Army Order 75 of 1967 and the Special Constabulary long Service Medal.
During the last quarter of 1978 aged 49 Dennis re-married to Audrey B Leigh in Cockermouth and by 2003 he was living at 8, Millfield Gardens, Keswick, Cumbria.
In later life Dennis lived at the Riverside Court Care Home in Salmoor, Maryport and he died on 16th October 2016 aged 89.
Following his education Dennis became a Joiner and his brother Kenneth a builder, possibly working together.
In about 1947 Dennis would have been called up for his National Service and during the third quarter of 1953 married Pamela Fletcher in Willesden, London having two sons, Colin Stephen born in 1954 and Clive Alan 1960.
Policing was clearly in Dennis’s blood as in about 1955 at about the end of his part time Army service, he either joined or transferred to the Royal Military Police Army, Emergency Reserve as a Corporal with service number 22372866. He also saw service in the Cumberland Special Constabulary as a Sergeant, being awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Army emergency Reserve’ in Army Order 75 of 1967 and the Special Constabulary long Service Medal.
During the last quarter of 1978 aged 49 Dennis re-married to Audrey B Leigh in Cockermouth and by 2003 he was living at 8, Millfield Gardens, Keswick, Cumbria.
In later life Dennis lived at the Riverside Court Care Home in Salmoor, Maryport and he died on 16th October 2016 aged 89.
The Story The medal pair awarded to Dennis Swindle were acquired from Lockdales Auction on 19th January 2023 and of interest because of the unusual, in fact not seen before, combination of the Efficiency Medal ‘Army Emergency Reserve’ and the Special Constabulary Medal. Both with original boxes of issue.
Surprisingly, his details were quickly found on Ancestry UK thanks to the fact his SCLS medal box was annotated with ‘Cumberland’. However, despite a helping hand from a partially completed biography on Ancestry, research stalled until it was discovered his birth register listed him as ‘Jennis Swindle’ not Dennis. Once this was established his mother’s maiden name was found and everything fell into place. This enabled his wis will and those of his parents to be located, helping fill in some additional pieces of the jigsaw.
It is only a brief biography but recalls the life of a man who earned an unusual, possibly scarce, combination of medals.
Surprisingly, his details were quickly found on Ancestry UK thanks to the fact his SCLS medal box was annotated with ‘Cumberland’. However, despite a helping hand from a partially completed biography on Ancestry, research stalled until it was discovered his birth register listed him as ‘Jennis Swindle’ not Dennis. Once this was established his mother’s maiden name was found and everything fell into place. This enabled his wis will and those of his parents to be located, helping fill in some additional pieces of the jigsaw.
It is only a brief biography but recalls the life of a man who earned an unusual, possibly scarce, combination of medals.
Medal boxes of award
Medal Details:
- Efficiency Medal 'AER': 22372866 CPL.D.SWINDLE. RMP
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: SERGT. DENNIS SWINDLE
This page last updated 4 Apr 23
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