Harry John Hayter

Story:
Harry John Hayter was born in Shaftesbury on 29th April 1884 the son of Charles Hayter and Susan Jane Edwards Hayter (nee Upjohn). Harry had joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment Volunteers prior to the First World War and served for a period of more than eight years before being discharged to the Reserves. He was embodied as a Private with his old regiment on 24th August 1914 (Service No. 3/7745). He served in the UK only and by 18th June 1915 was pronounced unfit for further service on medical grounds and went to live at 7 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, and received the Silver War Badge No. 236033. He married Elsie May Arney on 15th December 1918 at Enmore Green Church, Shaftesbury and they went on to have two children. Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show the family living at Breach Cottages, Breach Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and Harry was working as a Gardener. His death was registered at Sturminster, Dorset, in 1961.   His brothers, Percy Charles Hayter and Ernest George Hayter, also served in the conflict. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.