Sgt Thomas Swift, DCO
Thomas Swift, a native of Southall in Middlesex, had survived brutal treatment at the hands of the Turks after the fall of Kut-al-Amara, but had nevertheless done much to raise the morale of his fellow-prisoners in Mesopotamia.
On returning to Tulla, Sergeant Swift compiled the following report of the Tulla Ambush:
‘I was sergeant-in-charge of the party returning from a laying-out party near Annagh-Neal,(?) on reaching the cross roads near Ballynahinch, a man came into the road, the party which was leading along the side of the road halted near the road bridge. Lieutenant Warren, going out in the centre of the road, I heard someone speak, the next moment the rebel fired and I saw Lt. Warren fall. I ran up to Lt. Warren and fired two shots at the rebel as he ran up the road, then he disappeared over a wall, and then we were fired at from both sides of the road, most of the fire coming from our right. I immediately put a burst of fire into the right, then getting my men through and extending, then on reaching the wall on the cross roads got over and was again fired on from the opposite wall, I got my party on the flank and fired down the wall with this the rebels retired’.
Sergeant Swift later married Catherine Cronin at Limerick had three daughters – Kathleen, Barbara and Jean.