South Yorkshire Times, January 8, 1944

Bailed Out

A well-known Wath swimmer, Flying Officer Robert Matthew Wilkinson, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Wilkinson, of the Oak Tree Inn, who was reported missing as a result of air operations in Italy on December 20th, has now been stated by Air Force H.Q., North Africa, to have bailed out successfully and is believed to be a prisoner of war.

The news greatly relieved the anxiety of his parents who heard that he was missing on December 23rd, just a year and five days after Bob had received his “Wings” in South Africa.  Enquiries are being made about him through the International Red Cross.

Flying Officer Wilkinson is an old boy of Mexborough Secondary School, where he excelled in javelin throwing in inter-school sports.