HATCHER , William Leonard
| Service Number: | 739 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lah, Victoria, Australia, May 1896 |
| Home Town: | Goyura, Yarriambiack, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Goyura State School and Stawell Grammar School, Victoria |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, 3rd Casual Clearing Station, Pozieres, France , 7 August 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Puchevillers British Cemetery, France - Cemetery is located in Somme, France - Contains 1,763 WWI burials - William Leonard Hatcher's grave reference = II.D.18, Puchevillers British Cemetery, Puchevillers, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brim Lah Public Hall Roll of Honor WW1, Warracknabeal Lah Methodist Church Honor Roll, Warracknabeal Lah State School Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 739, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 739, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Wounded Gunshot wound to chest | |
| 7 Aug 1916: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 739, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 739 awm_unit: 22 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-08-07 |
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William Leonard Hatcher was born in May, 1896 in Lah, Victoria. Hatcher was born to Thomas and Elizabeth Hatcher of Goyura, Victoria. He was the eighth of nine children with two sisters and six brothers. Growing up, Hatcher went to the Goyura State School and Stawell Grammar School in Victoria. When he finished school, Hatcher became a farmer in Victoria. At the age of 18, Hatcher enlisted to join the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) in Melbourne on January 30, 1915.
On May 1, 1915 Hatcher joined the 22nd Infantry Battalion as a Private. Hatcher left Melbourne aboard the HMAT A38 ‘Ulysses’ on May 10, 1915. The ‘Ulysses’ was a transport ship that carried troops throughout WWI, with its first voyage on December 28, 1914. He disembarked in Alexandria, Egypt on January 7, 1916. Hatcher stayed in Alexandria and later joined the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) on March 19, 1916. He left Alexandria and arrived at Marseille, France on March 26, 1916. Here Hatcher was appointed to Lance Corporal on July 30, 1916. He participated in the battle of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, France which started on July 23, 1916. On August 5, 1916, nearing the end of the battle, Hatcher was shot in the chest. He was taken to the 3rd Casual Clearing Station where he died shortly afterwards on August 7, 1916. The battle ended on the same day as the Allies claimed Pozieres from the Germans.
Hatcher was buried in the Puchevillers British Cemetery in Somme, France. This cemetery would later contain 1,763 WWI burials.
ANZAC is the acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. World War I and the ANZAC’s actions so far from home are a significant episode in Australian history. Many identify this period as the birth of Australian ‘mateship’, evolving from the ANZAC comradery shown under pressure in the grim conditions of the WWI battlefields. The ANZACs were known for their spirit and humour. Some of the many other qualities that the ANZACs possessed were bravery, patriotism, courage, dedication and persistence. Hatcher showed many of these qualities in the way he fought and gave his life for his country and King. As a generation who have grown up without experiencing the horrors of war, it is impossible for us to fully comprehend what the ANZACs endured. Hatcher showed true ANZAC spirit in his time in World War I and although he may be gone, he will never be forgotten.
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