South Yorkshire Times, November 13th 1943
Dogged By Misfortune
Goldthorpe Mother’s Tragic Loss
A series of tragic events have been experienced in recent years by Mr. and Mrs. W. Swindells, of 25, Windermere Avenue, Goldthorpe, who, on Tuesday, were informed by telegram that their son, Sergt. Lawrence William Swindells (21), was killed during flying operations on Monday in Canada, where he was serving with the R.AF. ‘ A sad coincidence was that a few hours before receiving the telegram, Mrs. Swindells had a letter from her son, written some time before the accident, saying that he was allright and that he was enjoying every minute of his flying.
As a boy, Sergt. Swindells was crippled with a diseased foot but while attending Wath Grammar School he showed remarkable fortitude in overcoming his disability and eventually recovered sufficiently to play games and join the A.T.C. He became an insurance agent on leaving school, and joined the R.A.F. nearly two years ago, having been in Canada about a year.
Sergt. Pilot J. Whitfield, son of Mrs. Swindells by her first marriage, was killed in action with the R.A.F. over three years ago. Another son, Sergt. Instructor Leslie Whitfield, is in this country on the ground staff of the R.A.F. which he joined many years ago.
Mrs. Swindells’ first husband was killed in action in the last war. Mr. W. Swindells, her present husband is in the Montagu hospital Mexborough and has suffered for a long time as a result of wounds received in the last war.