The seat had become vacant on the death in April 1938 of the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) John Samuel Potts, who had represented the constituency since the 1935 general election, having previously been Barnsley's MP from 1922 to 1931.
Result
The Labour candidate, Frank Collindridge, held the seat for his party with an increased majority;
Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-06-X.