Name
Hubert Pelham Sworder
22 August 1897
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
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
VIII. S. 32.
France
Headstone Inscription
THY WILL BE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
Haileybury College Cloister Wall Memorial, Hertford Heath, Barkway Village Memorial, St Mary Magdalene Church Memorial, Barkway, Ind. Plaque, St Mary Magdalene Church, Barkway, Not on the Newsells memorials, Royal Memorial Chapel, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
Pre War
Hubert Pelham Sworder was born on 22 August 1897 at Newsells Bury, Royston, Herts the son of John William and Annie Jane Sworder (nee Perkins), and baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Barkway, Herts.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at The Bury, Newsells, where his father was the farmer. Also living with them were a governess and cook. He was initially educated at Thurlow School
By 1911 Hubert was at school and was listed as a boarder at St Wilfred's Preparatory School in Bexhill, Sussex. He later attended Haileybury College from 1911-14 where he was captain of the gym six. Meanwhile, his parents remained at The Bury, Newsells and his brother John was living with them, along with two servants.
He came from an old North Hertfordshire farming family and hunted with the Puckeridge Foxhounds and Eastern Counties Otter Hounds.
Wartime Service
He joined the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and, after the completion of his training, he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the Royal West Surrey Regiment on 21 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 Royal Flying Corps in August 1916 and graduated as a Pilot on 5 February 1917, flying to France on 14 February 1917 to join 57 Squadron.
On 2 April 1917 Hubert was piloting one of two aircraft on a patrol, an 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 2 April, official notice of his death was not received until 9 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 Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment and died of wounds on 24 July 1918 aged 29. He is also commemorated on the Barkway memorials.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Karen Smith - Acting Director of External Relations www.haileybury.com/honour Paul Johnson, Adrian Pitts
