Born in Whitechapel, London,
Enlisted at London by Sergeant Edward Talbot (later to be killed at Balaclava) on the 2nd of July 1850.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Servant.
Features: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Brown hair.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 21st of July 1853 for "having been drunk on sentry". Sentenced to 42 days imprisonment, of which 18 were remitted "on account of his previous good conduct."
Wounded in action at Inkerman on the 5th of November 1854.
Nunnerley in his "Memoirs" says that ".. a man was killed on his right (965 Robinson) and another man on his left had his arm taken off.." Swiney was almost certainly that man.
Sent to Scutari on the 12th of November 1855.
Invalided to England aboard the "Canterbury" on the 26th of February 1855. Discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 17th of October 1855.
"Disabled by amputation of the left arm above the elbow after shell wound received at Inkerman."
Served 5 years 52 days. Aged 24 years on discharge.
Conduct and character: "good". In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
To live at No. 26 Spittall Road, Bethnal Green, London, after discharge.
At some time, he also lived at No. 4 Garden Villas, Wildemay Park, Essex.
In an Account and Address Book formerly used by James W. Wightman when Secretary of the Balaclava Society in 1879, shows his address as 4, King Henry's Walk, Ball's Pond Road, Kingsland, London.
1891 Census
13 Watson Street, Hornsey.
John Swiney, 61, Army Pensioner, boarder, married, born Bethnal Green, London.
Died 19th October 1899.
He died on the 19th of October 1899 at 17, Allen Road, South Hornsey, and was buried in Grave No. 50334, Section G/1O, in Mount Chingford Cemetery on the 25th of October, aged 68 years. The service was conducted by the Revd. G. Ridgeway and the undertaker was H. Brown, of Allen Road, Hornsey. (See photograph of his grave-site in the 17th Lancer file. This was a common grave and no head-stone was erected.)
[PB, June 2017: D.H. Parry concludes his chapter on the 17th Lancers in the Crimea with Swiney's funeral.]
There is something of sad coincidence to be recorded for the 25th October in the year of grace 1899, for, on the 44th anniversary of the day when the thunder of the Russian guns rang in the ears of the Light Brigade, the solemn rattle of the funeral volley rolled over the grave of John Swiney, one of the last of the 17th Lancers, who was reverently laid to rest in the picturesque cemetery at Chingford, a few short hours before his remaining comrades met at their annual dinner.
The old veteran had written signifying his intention of being present, little thinking that his name would be coupled with that toast which is drunk standing, and in silence, "To the memory of the dead."
[Source: D.H. Parry, "Death or Glory Boys" (1899, 1903 edition), pp.225-6.]
An In-Pension form for admittance to Chelsea Royal Hospital was sent to him on the 26th of October 1896, but does not appear to have been taken up.
From August of 1897 until his death, Swiney received a total of £69/2/0 in financial help from the "Roberts" Fund, which also paid his funeral expenses.
Census information for 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.