HATTON, Walter

Walter Hatton was the son of William Hatton of Hillville Lodge, Oldswinford, and later of 174 Hagley Road. He attended Oldswinford C of E School and in 1914 volunteered to serve in the 1/8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. This was the 1st (Aston) Territorial Battalion, which was partly recruited in Stourbridge. He was one of two Oldswinford men to be killed on the first day of the Somme. The Warwicks, with the rest of the 48th Division, crossed the Channel on the 1st April 1915 and went to a quiet sector of the Somme to gain experience. In June 1916 they went into serious training for the Battle of the Somme. The week long barrage took away any hope of surprise but the intention was to destroy the German trenches and their defenders. The 48th were not in the front line but placed behind the 29th Division in their attempt to cross the river Ancre and take the Thiepval ridge. As the first troops went over the top at 7.30 on the 1st July, the Warwicks moved forward to take their places in the second wave ready to advance at 9.30. They marched forward but because of the disaster which befell the first wave, they did not continue. Two battalions of the 48th, however, were quickly sent to help the neighbouring 34th Division which had attacked La Boisselle. In this way the 1/8th joined the attack on this notorious first day of the Somme. They attacked bravely but were caught in the open ground by the German machine guns. The casualties were huge and among the 137 men of the Warwicks killed in action was Private Walter Hatton He was 22 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval, Stourbridge, Oldswinford church and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.