Mexborough and Swinton Times July 19, 1941

Missing

Last week Mr John R Butterfield, eldest son of Mr and Mrs C.T. Butterfield, of 7 Wood St, Swinton, dreamed that his youngest brother, Ronnie, who is a private in the R.A.M.C. was a prisoner of war

Last Thursday (a few days later) his parents received a letter from the War Office stating that Ronnie had been missing in the Middle East since June 2nd and now Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield are hoping that John’s premonition will come true. Four days later another letter was received, this time from Ronnie himself, in which he said that he had taken part in the evacuation from Greece and was all right.

The letter was posted in Crete on May 13th. Pte. Butterfield was called up on December 15th, 1939, and was sent East last year. He was born at Swinton and attended the Bridge Street School. Before being called up he was employed by his father, who is a well-known undertaker.

Another of Mr. Butterfield’s sons was killed in the last war three weeks before the signing of the Armistice