South Yorkshire Times April 27, 1957
Swinton’s Mother Worst Fears Were Realised
19-year-old Cooper Eric Hallam of 5, Valley Road Swinton, was killed when an RAF the letter transport plane crashed at Aqaba, Jordan, last Wednesday
he was with the 10th Royal Hussara, and told his mother that he will be flying home from Tripoli. When Mrs Helen heard of the crash on Thursday morning, she said she had a feeling that her son had been killed. This was confirmed by a war office telegram late on Thursday morning.
Mrs Helen was 47 yesterday (Thursday) told the “Times” that she was doing everything possible to get her son’s body home and buried at Swinton Parish graveyard. She said she would ask her M.P.to help her if necessary.
Letter and a Photo
On the date you was killed (Wednesday) Mrs Hallam received a letter and a photograph of a football team of which Eric was captain.
The team had just won the “Jordan Cop” from a RAF team. He told his mother in the letter, “I hope to see this photo hanging on the wall at home when I come home soon.”
“We shall keep it there but he will never see it” said Mrs Hallam on Tuesday.
Trooper Hallam was third son of a family of five sons and three daughters. “He was always a happy go lucky boy”, said Mrs Helen. “He never said once that he didn’t like the Army and he really enjoyed the life. I think it would have made it his career.”
Trooper Hallam was amongst 27 servicemen who were killed in the crash. Mrs Hallam received a letter from the commanding officer of her son’s regiment, saying that he will do anything within his power to help.
“It was a great loss to us, as it will be to you” said the Commanding Officer.”
Mrs Hallam has also received a letter of sympathy from Swinton football club, of which Eric was a player before he joined up.
He had served 18 months of a three-year period.