Mexborough and Swinton Times January 20, 1940

The late but nevertheless welcome news that Wombwell was represented at the Battle of the River Plate by the “baby” of one of our cruisers should stir the hearts and inflame the imagination of the youth of the town.

Sydney Haller, fifth son of Mrs. Haller, a widow of Pearson Field, was celebrating his eighteenth birthday at the time of the action, but he had already had four years in the Navy, having entered when he was only fourteen from the Bluecoat School, Sheffield.

Actually Wombwell has seen little of him in the past eight years, but it seems only yesterday that he used to sing in the Parish Church choir.

It was Canon J. St. Leger Blakeney who, out of a desire to help family, got a widow who had been left a big family, got him into the Bluecoat School at Sheffield.

Not for a moment as the Rector had cause to regret the help he gave him.