Researching Lt.Col. Latham Coddington SWIFTE 5th RDF

[Noor]

Hi all,

I am in the middle of researching Lt.Col. Latham Coddington SWIFTE, served in India Civil Service and 5th Battalion (Dublin Militia), Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Here are details, what I have so far. If you have anything about him, please let me know. Also I am very interested to find a picture of him somewhere.

Latham Cottington Swifte (20.09.1871 – 04.03.1933)

Latham was born in Dublin at 20 September 1871 as a son of Dublin Chief Police Magistrate Sir Ernest Godwin Swifte K.B., K.C. They were the lineal descendant and representative of Godwin Swift, of Swift's Heath, Kilkenny, the uncle and guardian of famous writter Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's. Latham’s great-uncle, Mr. Godwin Meade Pratt Swift, when head of the Swift family in Ireland, revived the ancient spelling of Swifte for Swift. They all lived in 18 Fitzwilliam Square, South Dublin. Latham had four brothers and a sister:

- Ernest Godwin Meade Swifte 1870-1957, Tank Corps, Major

- Francis William Swifte 1876-1954, 2nd Royal Fusiliers, Major

- Arthur Meade Swifte 1874-1912, 6th Dragoon Guards, Lieutenant

- Charles B Swifte 1878-1909

- Kahtleen Mary Swifte 1873 - 1962 (later Briggs) married with Colonel George Ewbank Briggs, OBE

He was matriculated to the Eton and New Collage (?), Oxford on 13 October 1890 age 19 and became selected as a candidate to Indian Civil Servants 1890.

He arrived to Bombay 6 November 1892 and Gradation list of Indian Civil Servants on the Bombay Establishment shows him on 1892 as a 2nd Assistant of Land Revenue and General Administrators.

1890 - Oxford men & their colleges. SWIFTE, Latham Coddington, born at Dublin 20 Sept., 1871 ; 2 son of Ernest Godwin, bar-at-law. New Coll., matriculated. 13 Octotber 1890, aged 19 (from Eton); selected candidate Indian Civil Service 1890.

1899 – London Gazette, 14 April. Latham C SWIFTE to be Second Lieutenant. Dated 11 April 1899

1899 – The Irish Times newspaper note regards Polo Ponies. Owner’s name Mr. L.C.Swifte. No. 0597 re-named from “Rusty Buckle”

1900 – London Gazette, 25 September. List of Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants; L.C. SWIFTE, 5th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Dated 14 August 1900

1901 – The London Times, 10 Sep 1901 (Tuesday). With the following on passage home: 5/R Dublin Fusiliers – Lieutenant L C SWIFTE

1902 – Queens South Africa medal roll. 5th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Lieutenant SWIFTE L.C.. Clasps “Cape Colony”, “Orange Free State”, “Transvaal”

1903 – London Gazette, 5 May. 5th Battalion, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Lieutenant L. C. SWIFTE is seconded for service under the India Office. Dated 7 April 1903

1903 – London Gazette, 20 November. Supernumerary Lieutenant L. C. SWIFTE to be Captain and to remain seconded. Dated 14 November 1903

1905 – The India list and India Office list – Land Revenue and General Administrators – SWIFTE, L.C. First assistant

1907 – Passengers list to India, Bombay. Ship Massilia. Mr. L.C. SWIFTE

1908 – London Gazette, 28 July. 5th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. List of officers. Captain Latham C. SWIFTE

1911 Census – Junior Naval & Military Club, St.George Hanover Square, London – Captain SWIFTE Latham Coddington, 5th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Born Dublin, 39 years of age

1911 – Delhi Durbar medal roll. SWIFTE, L. C. 3552 LtCol - Poona Volunteer Rifles. Collector: Poona. There were 4 medals to officers of the PVR, and 12 to NCO's/OR's

1912 – Resided in Calcutta (Indian Army Quarterly List, January 1912)

1912 – Silver bowl on the auction in the United Kingdom. Inscribed “L C Swifte First Prize Group of Polo Ponies Symphony Siren Gaskell Poona 1912”

1914 – RDF officer’s lists, “Crossed swords” Captain Swifte 14 Nov 1908

1914 – London gazette, 9 September. 5th Battalion, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Captain Latham Coddington Swifte to be Major. Dated 29 August 1914

1915 – RDF officer’s lists, e. “Crossed swords” Major Swifte 29 Nov. 1914

1915 – London Gazette, 28 August. Attached to the Headquarter Units. Brigade Major – Major Latham C. SWIFTE, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers, vice Major R. R. Lawrenson, The West India Regiment. 18 August 1915

1916 – London Gazette, 2 May. Commands and Staff; Brigade Majors - from a Staff Captain at the War Office, vice Major L. C. SWIFTE, Royal Dublin Fusiliers Special Reserve

1916 - RDF officer’s lists, “Crossed swords” Major Swifte 29 Nov. 1914

1917 - RDF officer’s lists, “Crossed swords” Major Swifte 29 Nov. 1914

1918 - RDF officer’s lists, “Crossed swords” Major Swifte 29 Nov. 1914

1918 – Residence Piccadilly, City of Westminster, England

1919 – London Gazette, 14 March. Special Appointments; Major L. C. SWIFTE, 5th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Special Reserve

1919 – London Gazette, 21 August. Italy Croce di Guerra. Major Latham Coddington SWIFTE, 5th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

1919 – London Gazette, 30 August. The under mentioned relinquish their temporary appointments; Special Appointments Cl.FF.—Major L. C. SWIFTE, 5th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Special Reserve 3 May 1919

1921 – London Gazette, 27 October. Special Reserve of Officers. 5th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, major L.C. SWIFTE resigns his commission 30 August 1921 and is granted the rank of Lieutenant Colonel

1923 – London Gazette, 23 January. Regular Army Reserve of Officers. Lieutenant Colonel L.C. SWIFTE, late 5th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers to be Lieutenant Colonel 30 August 1921, with seniority 28 February 1918

1923 – London Gazette, 9 February. Indian defence Force. 35th Poona Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel L.C. SWIFTE and is permitted to retain the rank Lieutenant Colonel 30 September 1920

1923 – Medal Index Card: Victory medal and British War medal. Major Staffs, Lt.Col. 5th RDF (RO) Theatre of War: Italy 22.09.1918. Medals applied 22.02.1923. Address: Skeen Croft, East Skeen, S.W. 14

1926 – The Irish Times, 1926. The annual dinner of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Officers presented; including Lieutenant-Colonel L.C. Swifte

1931 – Passenger list leaved UK to South Africa, ship SS Ascanius, age 60, title Col. SWIFTE L.C.

1932 – Return from a trip to Australia SS “Ascanius”. Residence Skeen Croft, East Skeen, London

1933 – 5 March died in Barbados, age 62, drowned while bathing. Family graveyard Whitechurch Parish Church, Dublin. Properties and effects went under brother Francis William Swifte

1933 – London Gazette, 16 June. Deceased Latham Coddington SWIFTE. H.M. Army Colonel (Retired)

One extra article, what I think is from pre WW1 period but I am not sure and I don’t know where it was published:

[Mervyn Mitton]

Noor - another great piece of research. I do hope someone wth-in the Membership will be able to help. Mervyn