Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Furnaceman William Hatton, 25, was born in Mudgee and nominated his father in Lithgow as his next of kin. He had been living in Queen Street, Auburn, when he enlisted at RAS Showground on 3 January 1916.
Private Hatton embarked on the Nestor on 9 April 1916, arriving in Plymouth, United Kingdom, via Alexandria on 7 June 1916. After three months in camps on the Salisbury Plain, Hatton arrived in France and marched into the 17th Battalion in the 2nd Australian Division in early September 1916.
After two months at the Front (the early months of the most bitterly cold European winter in a century), Hatton had a severe case of Trench Feet. He was taken back to the UK and ultimately spent all of 1917 and the first 3 months of 1918 in Britain, recovering from Trench Feet and VD.
Hatton returned to the 17th Battalion on 7 April 1918, in the middle of a German offensive. However, over the following few weeks, the tide turned and the Australians began their advance to victory up the valley of the River Somme. Hatton was killed in action on 1 July 1918 and was buried in Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux.
When he made his will, Hatton had listed Miss V E Miller of Marion Street, Auburn, as the sole beneficiary. In 1920, Miss Miller wrote to Base Records requesting a photograph of Hatton’s grave. Hatton’s medals, Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll were sent to his father in Lithgow, while his personal effects were sent to Miss Miller, who would also receive Hatton’s deferred pay.
Hatton W G was a late addition to the Auburn War Memorial, added after unveiling day, 30 April 1922. It is possible Miss Miller put his name forward to the memorial committee.
William Hatton is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Lithgow’s Fallen Heroes War Memorial
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
