Mexborough & Swinton Times, March 9, 1940

First Wath War Casualty

Young R.A.F. Gunner Killed

Parents Receive News on Sunday

Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Hart, of 16, Winfield Road, Wath-on-Dearne, received a telegram from the Records Department of the R.A.F. on Monday, telling them that their elder son, Frank, had been killed; he is Wath’s first war casualty.

Frank joined the Air Force just over a year ago. He was an old Wath Park Road schoolboy, and for some little time he attended Mexborough Junior Instruction Centre before taking a post in Buckinghamshire. It was his one wish to join the Air Force, however, and this he subsequently did. On his 18th birthday he passed out as a first-class wireless operator, and he was latterly an aerial gunner.

Although in true Air Force tradition, he has said little of his work since the outbreak of war, it is believed from his letters that he has latterly been on reconnaissance and North Sea patrol flights. He was last home at the New Year. ‘Frank, who was not yet 19, stood six feet, and was a fine figure in Air Force uniform.

His father served in the last war, with the York and Lancaster Regiment, and was wounded at Ypres.