Name
Hubert Pelham Sworder
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/04/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
57th Squadron
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
VIII. S. 32.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Haileybury College Cloister Wall Memorial, Hertford Heath, Barkway Village Memorial, St Mary Magdalene Church Memorial, Barkway, St Mary Magdalene Church Individual Memorial, Barkway, Not on the Newsells memorials
Pre War
Born on the 22nd August 1897 at Newsells Bury, Royston son of John William and Annie Jane (Perkins) Sworder. Educated at Thurlow School in Bexhill-on-Sea, Haileybury College 1911-14 where he was captain of the gym. six and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst where he became U.O. despite being the youngest of his Company.
He came from an old North Herts farming family and hunted with the Puckeridge Foxhounds and Eastern Counties Otter Hounds. He was unmarried.
Wartime Service
After the completion of his training he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the Royal West Surrey Regiment on the 21st June 1915 and promoted to acting Captain in July 1916. He then took up signalling and became the brigade Signals Officer in July 1916. Hubert joined the RFC in August 1916 and graduated as a Pilot on the 5th February 1917. He flew to France on the 14th February 1917 to join 57 Squadron. On the 2nd April 1917 Hubert was piloting one of two aircraft on a patrol, a FE2d (A1944). When the aircraft was some distance over the enemy lines, between Arras and Cambrai, they were attacked by six German aircraft, two of which were shot down. Both the British aircraft were brought down and the observer of one aircraft was taken prisoner. He reported that both Lieutenant Sworder and his observer, Second Lieutenant Henry Margoliouth, had been killed. Although reported missing on the 2nd April, official notice of his death was received on the 9th August 1917.
His De Ruvigny listing states that he "was killed in aerial action between Arras and Cambrai 2 April, 1917. His Squadron Commander wrote: "I would like to let you know how much we thought of you son's ability as a pilot... His Flight Commander used to allude to your son as 'very sound', which was his highest form of praise for anyone. From what I saw of him, I thought him quite one of the best of my flying officers... and exceptionally brave." later this officer again wrote: "your son was quite one of the best pilots, and finest officers whom I had in my squadron. I looked upon your boy as a true type of the best which can be produced in England."
Additional Information
Brother of Lieutenant John Perkins Sworder who also served in the died of wounds on Royal West Surrey Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Malcolm Lennox, Karen Smith - Acting Director of External Relations www.haileybury.com/honour Paul Johnson, Adrian Pitts
