Lawrence Collier Hatch was the second son of Dr and Mrs FH Hatch of Copsehill, Wimbledon. He was born in Johannesburg on 3rd November 1893 and came to School House at Oundle in January 1907, staying until July 1911.
After Oundle, he went up to Pembroke College, Cambridge.
At the outbreak of the war, he obtained a commission in the Durham Light Infantry and he was sent to France in September 1915, holding the rank of Lieutenant. He was killed just a week after his arrival on 27th September 1915 on the third day of the disastrous Battle of Loos.
The regimental history of the Durham Light Infantry comments on the advance made on 27th September 1915 as follows:
'It was intended to launch another attack, but before 2pm came a spontaneous advance, in which the survivors of the Durham battalions joined forces with the 64th Brigade. Heavily punished in the flank by shrapnel and machine-gun bullets, and unsupported by the British gunners who had not been warned of the attempt, the infantry had no chance of success. The losses of the Durhams were very heavy. In the ranks 277 were lost in the 14th, including Lt Hatchl. In the 15th 450 other ranks were casualties.'
Lawrence Hatch’s elder brother Philip, also a School House boy was killed a year later, leading his men into action.
Lawrence Collier Hatch was 21 years old at the time of his death. He has no known grave.
C Pendril
Yarrow Fellow