Roll of Honour - Somerset - Bath City - World War 1

The Royal British Legion

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(1897-1900), Captain, "A" Company, 8th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action Saturday 1 July 1916, on the Somme. Aged 27. Son of Sir Harry Hatt and Lady Hatt, of Sunnycroft, Bloomfield Park, Bath. Awarded the Military Cross (M.C.)[London Gazette 4 November 1915]. In the 1911 census he was aged 22, born Oxford, a Fruitgrower Foreman, boarding at Backside,s Whitford, Axminster, Devon. His death appeared in the Sussex, Eastbourne Gazette Newspaper Notices 1916. Buried in GORDON DUMP CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE, Somme, France. Plot II. Row M. Grave 4. See also Bedford Modern School

Extract from London Gazette 4 November 1915, page 10890:

Temporary Lieutenant Arthur Beach Hatt, 8th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).

For conspicuous gallantry and determination on "Hill 70" on 25th and 26th September, 1915, when with a Serjeant and about six men he held on to his position until practically everyone else in the vicinity had retired.

Extract from Sussex, Eastbourne Gazette Newspaper Notices 12 July 1916:

CAPTAIN ARTHUR BEACH HATT
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Captain Arthur Beach Hatt, Somerset Light Infantry (killed in action on July 1), was the elder son of the Mayor of Bath (Alderman H. T. Hatt), and nephewof Miss Beach, of Langley House, Enys-road, Eastbourne. Major Scott, Commandant of his battalion, in a message to Alderman Hatt, says:- "The last I heard of your son he was badly hit, and the stretcher-bearers were trying to get him in. He was perfectly splendid, leading his comoany up to the first line of the German trenches, and smiling and saying, 'Come on, you fellows, we've got them now.' The battalion were splendid for the way they went through the machine-gun fire, whcih opened the moment we came out. They eventually went through four lines of trenches, thous, alas! I was not there to see it through." Captain Hatt won the MIlitary Cross for gallantry at Loos in September. His brother, Captain Edward Beach Hatt, of the Somerset Light Infantry, was recently wounded.
Deceased was presented with the Military Cross by the King at the investiture at Buckingham Palace in June last. The official statement with reference to the award was as under:- "For conspicuous gallantry and determination on 'Hill 70' on 25th and 26th September, 1915, when with a Serjeant and about six men he held on to his position until practically everyone else in the vicinity had retired."

Extract from Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette 15 July 1916:

THE MAYOR'S SON
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CAPTAIN ARTHUR HATT KILLED
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FELL IN ACTION ON JULY 2nd.
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From the letter which the Mayor (Alderman H. T. Hatt) received from Lieut.-Colonel J. W. Scott on Friday last it was evident that his elder son, Captain Arthur Beach Hatt, of the Somerset Light Infantry, had been seriously wounded. His Commandant's letter left Captain Hatt's fate undecided, but the slight hope entertained that he might be alive was removed by a telegram which the Mayor received on Saturday evening from Mrs. William Jackman. That lady being in London undertook to call at the War Office and when she inquired there late on Saturday was informed that information had just come through that Captain Arthur Hatt was killed. She immediately, as promised, wired to the Mayor. On Sunday morning His Worship received information of the sad intelligence that his son was killed on Sunday, July 2nd, in the form of an official telegram from the War Office, which also expressed the Army Council’s deep sympathy.

Though he had spent comparatively little time in Bath during recent years, many citizens beyond the immediate circle of his family’s friends had come to know the fine young officer, who had now made the supreme sacrifice.

Captain Hatt, who was 27 years of age, was educated at the Dean Close Memorial School, Cheltenham, and decided to adopt horticulture as his profession. To become thoroughly proficient in all branches of the industry he spent several years abroad. He at first studied in Holland and from there went to Celle, in Hanover, for twelve months, afterwards taking the horticultural course at the Horticultural College, Wittstock, Brandenburg. From Germany, Mr. Hatt travelled into France, spending some time in that country to become conversant with the system of intensive culture. Returning to Eng¬land he became a manger of a fruit farm near Seaton, Devon, and then took a fruit farm at Lilworth, near, Pershore, Worcestershire, in partnership with Mr. Stanley Shackell, son of Mr. J. S. Shackell. of Sswainswick, an old school fellow. When the war broke out Mr. Arthur Hatt was at once intensely desirious of bearing arms and in the autumn of 1914 enlisted in the Southdown Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment. In three weeks he had made sergeant, then intermediate steps of lance-corporal and corporal being missed. In February last year he was given a commission as temporary second-lieutenant in the Service Battalion of the Somerset L.I. He obtained his second star before the regiment went aboard and was Lieutenant in charge of a platoon during the British Advance last September. In that capacity he won the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry, and devotion at Loos on September 25, and a few days after this evidence of his valour, was promoted Captain, his promotion dating from September 29. Captain Hatt came home on leave during the winter and was also in Bath two months ago. While he was proceeding on board the boat to return to France he received a telegram telling him he was to attend an investiture at Buckingham Palace on May 17. He did so and had the pleasure of being decorated by the King with the Military Cross.

Lieut. -Colonel J. W. Scott, who commands Captain Hatt's battalion, in accordance with his promise, immediately on oncoming London wrote again to the Mayor. In this he says: Just before leaving France, another officer of the ____ came down and I obtained further information concerning your son from him. Apparently they brought your son back into our line, but be only lived few hours. I say apparently because the young officer was suffering from shell shook, though he seemed quite clear about it." Colonel Scott mentions that he himself has "a bullet in the leg, nothing of any consequence.”

The deceased officer had a splendid voice and in the winter of 1914-15 sang at one of the concerts given in the Pump Boom Annexe for the entertainment of Kitchener's Army then in Bath. When at home, the late Rev. C. E. Doudney, knowing Mr. Hatt's vocal ability, always enlisted his assistance in the choir at St. Luke's. At that church on Sunday no mention was made by name of Captain Hatt, but the Vicar, the Rev. H. W. Doodney, referring to the hymns sung, said they had been chosen in memory of the heroes who had fallen, including one who was well-known to that congregation.

At Manvers Street Baptist Church on Sunday morning the Pastor, the Rev. T. Hayward, made sympathetic allusion to the Chief Magistrates bereavement his prayers.

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Serjeant 6629, 7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's) attached to 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Killed in action 16 September 1916. Aged 31. Born Weston, Bath, enlisted Bath 18 March 1905, resident East Tiverton. Son of John and Wyndham Elizabeth Hayward, of 43, Caledonian Rd., East Twerton, Bath; brother of Doris Hayward. Enlisted aged 19 years 4 months, a Stay Hand prior to enlistment. Height 5 feet 4¼ inches, weight 116 lbs (9st 5lbs), chest 35 inches, dark complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, religious denomination Baptist. Emarked at Bombay 16 September 1914, disembarked Marseilles, 13 October 1914, wounded 2 November 1914, admitted to Cavalry Field Ambulance with gunshot wounds to the left leg 2 November, transferred to England aboard Hospita Ship "St Patrick" 8 November 1914; rejoined regiment 11 November 1915, promoted Serjeant 9 October 1915, admitted to hospital with Myalgia 20 November 1915, disharged from hospital and rejoined unit 25 December 1915; attached to 6th Battalion, D.C.L.I. 9 September 1916. In the 1901 census he was aged 15, a Staymaker's Cutter, born Bath, Somerset, son of John Hayward, resident 19, Denmark Road, Twerton, Bath, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 A. See also Bath College

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Captain, 6th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 21 March 1918. IN 1901 he was aged 6, born Warwick, Warwickshire, son of Rev. Henry G and Alice A Hensley, resident 31, High Street, Warwick, Warwick St Mary, Warwickshire. No known grave. Commemorate don POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 25 and 26. See also Bath College

Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918:

HENSLEY, WILFRID HENRY, Capt., 6th (Service) Battn. Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry), only s. of the Rev. Henry G. Hensley, of Great Andrée 14 July, 1894 ; educ. Warwick School ; Bath College ; Dean Close School, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge ; joined the Public Schools Battn. The Royal Fusiliers in Sept. 1914 ; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Nov. 1915 ; returned to England in March, 1916, and after a period of training at Oxford, was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 6th Battn. The Somerset Light Infantry ; promoted Lieut. July 1916, and Capt. Dec. 1917; was again wounded near Arras 9 April, 1917, and invalided home ; went back to France in Dec., and was killed in action north of Moy, near St. Quentin, 21 March, 1918; unm.

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BATH WAR MEMORIAL