Mike Swindells's death, while swimming off the coast of Elba in October 2015, is a real loss not only to his family and friends, including so many of us in the Society, but also to a much wider community as a whole.
Mike was born in Cheshire in 1930. He was educated at Rugby School and then did National Service in the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, based in Germany. Not long after he had finished National Service, he re-joined that regiment, in order to serve with them in the war in Korea, where he commanded a troop of tanks in the Commonwealth Division and was given a Commander-in-Chief's Commendation. After Korea, he stayed on in the ‘Skins', with a regular commission, serving first in Egypt and then returning to the UK, where he was appointed Adjutant of the Cheshire Yeomanry, a Territorial Army regiment.
In 1955, Mike married Prue Tully, who from then onwards shared his army life and all the upheavals that brought. After attending the Staff College, Mike served in a variety of staff and regimental appointments: in Germany, Aden, Cyprus, Singapore and Brunei. On being promoted lieutenant colonel, he was asked to transfer to the 9th/12th Royal Lancers to be their commanding officer. Such an appointment from outside is not always welcome but Mike swiftly won the respect of his new regiment through his clear ability in command, his charm as a person, his skill as a horseman, and not least by having Prue at his side.
A spell as a colonel at the Staff College was followed by promotion to brigadier and the command of an armoured brigade, at Minden in Germany. Then, after attending the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, he served on the staff in the Ministry of Defence. On promotion to major general, he was appointed Chief of the Joint Services Liaison Organisation in Bonn, dealing with the relations between the British forces stationed in Germany and the local governments. His final post, until 1985, was in the Defence Intelligence Staff in London. He was then made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Mike never really retired from army circles; he was too much in demand for his qualities as a leader and an effective administrator but, above all, for his knack of getting on with people at all levels – that twinkle in his eye is utterly memorable. From 1987 to 1998, he was the Controller of the Army Benevolent Fund but took on other responsibilities. He was Chairman of the Royal Soldiers’ Daughters School, 1985–89, Colonel of the 9th/12th Lancers, 1990–95, and National Chairman of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association, 1991–96.
Mike and Prue had two daughters, Doey and Georgie, and four grandchildren, but their son, Adam, was tragically killed in a road accident in 1995, aged 20, which was naturally a very deep sadness for them both. Throughout these ‘retirement' years, Mike and Prue lived in Wiltshire, first in the village of Wilcot and latterly in Devizes. Mike enjoyed taking his whippet for long walks; he loved the countryside and served on the Council of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. He was also a sincere Christian and actively involved with his parish church.
Prue's brother, Mark Tully (a member of the Society), was for many years the BBC correspondent in Delhi and continued to live there. This took Mike and Prue to India several times. Mike enjoyed the railways and loved the mountains; he was planning another walk in the Himalayas in 2016. He had joined the Society in 1998 and was soon invited to stand for election to the Council, where he served for two terms from 1999 to 2005, giving his usual wise advice. In 2007, he gave a talk to the Society on “South Korea: 1950–2007: A Perspective”.
In 2006 Mike was asked to become the National President of the British Korean Veterans Association; another ‘hands on' task. His determination was instrumental in overcoming many problems in getting a Korean War Memorial established in London. This fine bronze statue, of a soldier in the combat dress of that period, was finally unveiled in late 2014, on the Embankment near the Ministry of Defence. It will also be a very fitting memorial to Mike himself: an outstanding soldier and a great companion.