Henry Swire

Henry Swire joined the Royal Navy in 1925, and enjoyed a career spanning nearly 30 years. In that time he rose from petty officer, to gunner, to Lieutenant, and he saw service on some of the best known ships in the British fleet, including the battleship HMS Renown.

Swire’s career as a sports shooter saw him win some coveted trophies at Bisley, with the 1927 Navy Rifle Championship being one of his first major successes. He followed that, in 1929, with the coveted Queen Mary’s Prize, which he regained at the first post-war Bisley Championship in 1946. Swire went to the 1948 Olympics as the Royal Naval revolver champion, but could only finish 39th in the 25-metre rapid-fire pistol event. Four years later, at Helsinki, he finished 48th in the same event.