An Archangel Intervenes?
Sergeant Charles Hattan Lincolnshire Regiment, East Yorkshire Regiment, War Department Constabulary
The Man Charles Hattan born on Thursday 8th November 1898 in Sculcoates, Beverley, Humberside, son of Charles Frederick Aquarius and Frances nee Allen. He had a sister, Alice born in 1895-1980 and a brother George 1904-71.
By the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 24 St Andrew’s Street, Sculcoates together with Elizabeth a 15-year-old servant. Charles senior is not shown on the census, but he sadly died in 1905 aged just 39. By 1911 Charles aged 12 and still at school was living with relatives, Henry and Henrietta Allen at 623, Springbank West, Hull. His religion was Primitive Methodist.
Following school Charles became a Labourer and Grinder and living at 77 Newstead Street, Hull. World War I began on 4th August 1914 and on 13th November 1915, aged 17 he enlisted into the 13th Reserve Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment as a Private with service number 41405.
Charles initially saw service at home and in June 1917 transferred to the 2/5th Lincolnshire Regiment and was posted to France on 9th May 1917 as part of the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.
On 21st March 1918, the Germans launched Operation Michael a major push that began the German Spring Offensive. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, France and its goal was to break through the Allied lines and advance in a north-westerly direction to seize the Channel Ports, cut off supplies to and drive the BEF into the sea.
A horrendous battle ensued with the artillery bombardment beginning at 04:35 with an intensive German barrage. There followed trench mortars, mustard, chlorine and tear gas and smoke canisters which were concentrated on the forward trenches, while heavy artillery bombarded rear areas to destroy Allied artillery and supply lines. Over 3,500,000 shells were fired in five hours, hitting targets over an area of 150 square miles in the biggest barrage of the war,
Charles was reported as missing in action during the battle in the Third Army area, where German troops broke through during the morning, along the Cambrai–Bapaume Road near Boursies–Louverval through the weak defences of the 59th Division near Bullecourt.
By the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 24 St Andrew’s Street, Sculcoates together with Elizabeth a 15-year-old servant. Charles senior is not shown on the census, but he sadly died in 1905 aged just 39. By 1911 Charles aged 12 and still at school was living with relatives, Henry and Henrietta Allen at 623, Springbank West, Hull. His religion was Primitive Methodist.
Following school Charles became a Labourer and Grinder and living at 77 Newstead Street, Hull. World War I began on 4th August 1914 and on 13th November 1915, aged 17 he enlisted into the 13th Reserve Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment as a Private with service number 41405.
Charles initially saw service at home and in June 1917 transferred to the 2/5th Lincolnshire Regiment and was posted to France on 9th May 1917 as part of the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.
On 21st March 1918, the Germans launched Operation Michael a major push that began the German Spring Offensive. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, France and its goal was to break through the Allied lines and advance in a north-westerly direction to seize the Channel Ports, cut off supplies to and drive the BEF into the sea.
A horrendous battle ensued with the artillery bombardment beginning at 04:35 with an intensive German barrage. There followed trench mortars, mustard, chlorine and tear gas and smoke canisters which were concentrated on the forward trenches, while heavy artillery bombarded rear areas to destroy Allied artillery and supply lines. Over 3,500,000 shells were fired in five hours, hitting targets over an area of 150 square miles in the biggest barrage of the war,
Charles was reported as missing in action during the battle in the Third Army area, where German troops broke through during the morning, along the Cambrai–Bapaume Road near Boursies–Louverval through the weak defences of the 59th Division near Bullecourt.
However, on 1st May it was advised he had been captured and taken unwounded as Prisoner of War at Bullecourt being taken from the front to Munster, a probable lucky escape. A neighbour Henry Ince at 23 St Andrews Steet, and his sister Alice c/o the Allens were officially notified.
Following the Armistice on 11th November 1918, Charles was repatriated to the UK on 7th December and awarded the British War Medal 1914-18 and the Victory Medal. On 28th June 1919 he was awarded a 3rd Class Certificate of Education and on 15th May a 2nd Class Certificate.
On 12th December 1919 he was discharged from the Army, re-enlisting the next day, the 13th into the regular Army 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment with a new service number 59471. He signed on for three years until 1922 and was described as 5’.9½“tall, with a fresh complexion.
On 3rd January 1920 Charles was posted to India where he remained until 17th September when he was posted to the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, landing on 22nd September during The Iraq Campaign, which lasted from 10th December 1919-17th November 1920. This began in Baghdad in the summer of 1920 with mass demonstrations by Iraqis, including protests by embittered officers from the old Ottoman army, against the British occupation of Iraq. For his service he was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Iraq’. He returned to the UK on 30th March 1922 in time for his discharge from the Army.
Following the Armistice on 11th November 1918, Charles was repatriated to the UK on 7th December and awarded the British War Medal 1914-18 and the Victory Medal. On 28th June 1919 he was awarded a 3rd Class Certificate of Education and on 15th May a 2nd Class Certificate.
On 12th December 1919 he was discharged from the Army, re-enlisting the next day, the 13th into the regular Army 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment with a new service number 59471. He signed on for three years until 1922 and was described as 5’.9½“tall, with a fresh complexion.
On 3rd January 1920 Charles was posted to India where he remained until 17th September when he was posted to the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, landing on 22nd September during The Iraq Campaign, which lasted from 10th December 1919-17th November 1920. This began in Baghdad in the summer of 1920 with mass demonstrations by Iraqis, including protests by embittered officers from the old Ottoman army, against the British occupation of Iraq. For his service he was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Iraq’. He returned to the UK on 30th March 1922 in time for his discharge from the Army.
On his discharge report pre-dated 16th December 1921, the Lieutenant Colonel Commanding 2/East Yorkshire Regiment, wrote of Charles -
“His character has been Very Good. A clean and hardworking man. A 1st class signaller and has been employed with a Divisional Signal Company”.
He re-enlisted on 30th November 1922 when he was described as 5.9½“ tall, weighing 139lbs, a girth of 39”, fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair with a small scar on his right shin. His service number was changed again to 4335851. By 1925 he was serving in the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment and on 23rd May 1925 married Olive Hornsey in Beverley, Yorkshire.
Charles extended his service on 10th December 1928 and on 6th April 1933 attended and completed a Sergeant’s Cooks’ Course at Catterick. His report read -
“Very good. Very good knowledge shown in all departments. Keen and interested in his work. Should develope (sic) into a reliable Sergeant Cook”.
He extended his service again on 6th December 1933 and promoted to Corporal. In Army Order 172 of 1935 he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military) for 18 years’ service. Charles was promoted to Sergeant and posted to India again during the 1930s. He embarked at Bombay in SS Viceroy of India on 10th December 1938, returning to the UK and disembarking at Tilbury on 30th.
On 26th January 1939 he was discharged from the Army at his own request with less than 21 years’ service towards engagement, but with 21 or more years’ service for his pension (Para 383 (xxii) KR 1935). His reason being that on 12th January he had been successfully warranted as a Police Constable with the War Department Constabulary with collar No 499 and living at 20 North Terrace, Chorley. During World War II he was promoted to Police Sergeant on 28th November 1940 and sadly, Olive died during the third quarter of 1940. However, on 4th October 1941 at Trinity Methodist Church, Gillibrand Walks, Chorley, Lancashire he re-married to Married Vera Purvis, a District Nurse at a local motor works. At the time he was living in the police section house at Heapy.
Charles served in the Police during World War II, reverting to Constable on 17th December 1945 following a reduction of establishment and awarded the Defence Medal.
Charles and Vera lived at 96 Bent Lane, Leyland, Preston, Lancashire and he was awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal in 1961 and on 8th November 1963 retired from the Police aged 65. It was noted by the Chief Constable that his duties had been performed faithfully and his conduct excellent.
Charles died on 26th March 1977 aged 78 at 77 Reads Avenue, Blackpool, of acute bronchitis – natural causes. Vera died 34 years later on 11th March 2011 living at Swan House, High Street, Winslow.
“His character has been Very Good. A clean and hardworking man. A 1st class signaller and has been employed with a Divisional Signal Company”.
He re-enlisted on 30th November 1922 when he was described as 5.9½“ tall, weighing 139lbs, a girth of 39”, fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair with a small scar on his right shin. His service number was changed again to 4335851. By 1925 he was serving in the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment and on 23rd May 1925 married Olive Hornsey in Beverley, Yorkshire.
Charles extended his service on 10th December 1928 and on 6th April 1933 attended and completed a Sergeant’s Cooks’ Course at Catterick. His report read -
“Very good. Very good knowledge shown in all departments. Keen and interested in his work. Should develope (sic) into a reliable Sergeant Cook”.
He extended his service again on 6th December 1933 and promoted to Corporal. In Army Order 172 of 1935 he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military) for 18 years’ service. Charles was promoted to Sergeant and posted to India again during the 1930s. He embarked at Bombay in SS Viceroy of India on 10th December 1938, returning to the UK and disembarking at Tilbury on 30th.
On 26th January 1939 he was discharged from the Army at his own request with less than 21 years’ service towards engagement, but with 21 or more years’ service for his pension (Para 383 (xxii) KR 1935). His reason being that on 12th January he had been successfully warranted as a Police Constable with the War Department Constabulary with collar No 499 and living at 20 North Terrace, Chorley. During World War II he was promoted to Police Sergeant on 28th November 1940 and sadly, Olive died during the third quarter of 1940. However, on 4th October 1941 at Trinity Methodist Church, Gillibrand Walks, Chorley, Lancashire he re-married to Married Vera Purvis, a District Nurse at a local motor works. At the time he was living in the police section house at Heapy.
Charles served in the Police during World War II, reverting to Constable on 17th December 1945 following a reduction of establishment and awarded the Defence Medal.
Charles and Vera lived at 96 Bent Lane, Leyland, Preston, Lancashire and he was awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal in 1961 and on 8th November 1963 retired from the Police aged 65. It was noted by the Chief Constable that his duties had been performed faithfully and his conduct excellent.
Charles died on 26th March 1977 aged 78 at 77 Reads Avenue, Blackpool, of acute bronchitis – natural causes. Vera died 34 years later on 11th March 2011 living at Swan House, High Street, Winslow.
The Story The medal group awarded to Charles Hattan were acquired in November 2022, from the British Medal Forum and of interest because of the unusual double long service combination, a George V Army Long Service Medal and Elizabeth II Police Long Service Medal.
The medals came with service records, a photograph of Charles and some original police letters confirming his service dates, which together with a trawl of Ancestry.UK enabled a comprehensive biography to be pieced together.
Of particular interest is the fact that Charles was taken as a PoW during World War I, on 21st Mach 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive - Operation Michael.
An excellent set of medals to a man who served his country for 46 years.
The medals came with service records, a photograph of Charles and some original police letters confirming his service dates, which together with a trawl of Ancestry.UK enabled a comprehensive biography to be pieced together.
Of particular interest is the fact that Charles was taken as a PoW during World War I, on 21st Mach 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive - Operation Michael.
An excellent set of medals to a man who served his country for 46 years.
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 41405 PTE.C.HATTAN.LINC.
- Victory Medal: 41405 PTE.C.HATTAN.LINC.
- General Service Medal: 59471 PTE C.HATTON. E.YORK.R.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: 4335851 CPL.C.HATTAN. E.YORK.R.
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: CONST. CHARLES HATTAN
This page last updated 6 May 22
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