William Hatton

4803 Private William Hatton, 'B' Coy,1st battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). enlisted on 7 August 1914 (possibly as a reservist) and after training moved to France on 27 December 1914, joining the 1st battalion. The battalion took part in The Battle of Aubers on 9 May 1915. The 25th Brigade attacked and suffered heavy losses, making little progress. At 5.55 a.m., 24th brigade advanced with the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment leading, supported by 'B' and 'D' companies of the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters. The artillery barrage had hardly touched the enemy parapets. Enemy machine guns fired form all directions but 'B' company managed to get within 40 yards of the enemy wire only to see that it was almost intact. At this point an order was received to 'Stop advance' and the two companies fell back to reorganise. At some point in this first attack, William was killed, one of 86 men to die that day. William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Father - Arthur received soldiers effects money - 11/12/1915 - £1-3s-5d 01/10/1919 - £3 gratuity. 2 April 1919 - AFW 5070, families form sent. In memoriam published 9th May 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HATTON. – In loving memory of Private William Hatton, 1st Sherwood Foresters, killed in action May 9th, 1915, aged 20 years. Gone, but not forgotten. – From mother, father, and also his grandmother.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 John Morse