Sir John Swinton of Kimmerghame | |
---|---|
Born | April 21, 1925 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ |
British Army |
Years of service | 1944–79 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands held |
London District Household Division |
Battles/wars |
Second World War Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation |
Awards |
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches |
Spouse(s) | Judith Balfour Killen (m. 1954; d. 2012) |
Relations |
Tilda Swinton (daughter) George Swinton (paternal grandfather) |
Major General Sir John Swinton of Kimmerghame, KCVO, OBE, DL (born 21 April 1925) is a retired senior British Army officer who served as Major-General commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District from 1976 until his retirement in 1979.
Swinton is the son of Brigadier Alan Henry Campbell Swinton of Kimmerghame, MC (born 15 March 1896) and wife, Mariora Beatrice Evelyn Rochfort Alers-Hankey (born 1900). His paternal grandfather was Scottish politician and officer-of-arms George Swinton. The Swinton family is an ancient Anglo-Scots family that can trace its lineage to the High Middle Ages.
Swinton was commissioned into the Scots Guards on 24 March 1944, and was twice wounded towards the end of the Second World War. He was promoted to lieutenant on 8 November 1947. He served in Malaya during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation and was mentioned in despatches. Swinton was promoted to captain on 21 April 1952.