Kenneth Faviell Sworder

Captain Kenneth Faviell Sworder, D.S.O., R.N., Retired (25 May, 1885 – 14 January, 1956) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Sworder was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1906.

In April, 1907, a Court of Enquiry into the drowning of an ordinary seaman found that "Lt. Sworder considered to have shown a lamentable want of prompt initiative" and cautioned him to be more careful in future.

In April 1911, his Quail received a "fair" inspection. Two months later, it was "satisfactory".

Sworder was appointed in command of the destroyer Syren on 1 August, 1911. In February, 1912, he was found to have committed an "error in judgt" in damaging Syren's starboard propellor.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Star on 4 June, 1913. He remained in command until she was reduced in November, 1913. He was appointed to the armoured cruiser Essex on 1 January, 1914.

Great War

Sworder was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander while serving in Essex, on 31 December, 1914. Captain Hugh D. R. Watson sent a letter to the Admiralty praising Sworder's "energetic action" for speeding the first train of refugees from Mexico City on April 14 during the troubles there. His service in the cruiser ended 5 May, 1915, and on the eleventh, he was ordered to report to the Admiralty "forthwith".

On 11 May, 1916, he was sick and was sent to the Canadian hospital in Salonika for six days before being discharged.

On 16 March, 1917, he was credited with destroying a German submarine. He was awarded the D.S.O. for this feat, gazetted on 22 June, 1917.

Sworder was appointed in command of the destroyer Viceroy in January, 1918.

He married Elspath Jan McEwan in Enfield on 1 August, 1918.

Sworder was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1918.

Post-war

On 5 February, 1920, Sworder was appointed in command of the destroyer Sharpshooter.

On 10 May, 1921, he incurred Their Lordships' severe displeasure for failing to comply with "Portsmouth General Order respecting speed of navigation" by taking Sharpshooter at high speed through Yarmouth Roads.

Sworder was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 November, 1922 and would be eligible to apply for a step in rank upon his forty-fifth birthday. This was duly enacted when Sworder was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 25 May, 1930.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Edward O. Tudor	Captain of H.M.S. Quail 2 Sep, 1910 – 19 Jun, 1911	Succeeded by Frederic A. H. Russel
Preceded by George L. D. Gibbs	Captain of H.M.S. Syren 1 Aug, 1911 – 4 Jun, 1913	Succeeded by William G. A. Kennedy
Preceded by William G. A. Kennedy	Captain of H.M.S. Star 4 Jun, 1913 – Nov, 1913	Succeeded by Geoffrey S. Holden
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Arno 25 May, 1915 – 25 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Hamilton E. Snepp
Preceded by Walter O. H. Lambert	Captain of H.M.S. Racoon 25 Sep, 1916 – 9 Aug, 1917	Succeeded by Frederick L. Cavaye
Preceded by Kenneth A. Beattie	Captain of H.M.S. Pelican 15 Sep, 1917 – 1 Jan, 1918	Succeeded by Edward B. Hoyle
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Viceroy 2 Jan, 1918 – 28 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by John Brooke
Preceded by Roger V. Alison	Captain of H.M.S. Umpire 28 Mar, 1919 – 27 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by Donald C. Brock
Preceded by Cecil R. E. W. Perryman	Captain of H.M.S. Sharpshooter 5 Feb, 1920 – 5 Feb, 1922	Succeeded by Laurence R. Palmer