Henry Meatyard Hatcher

Story:
Henry Meatyard Hatcher was born in 1892 in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was the son of Albert Hatcher, a farm foreman, and Selina Elizabeth Hatcher (née Jenkins). In 1910 Henry traveled via Southampton to New York on the SS Adriatic. He appeared on the United States Census of 1910 living at Kortright, Delaware, USA, working as a hired man. At the time of the 1911 Census, his parents were living at Green Farm, Cherry Orchard, Cann, Shaftesbury. He must have returned to the UK at some time after 1911 in order to enlist in Sherborne, Dorset and join the 1st/1st Battalion of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry (Service No. 866) later transferring to the Corps of Hussars (New Service No. 230239). He served in Egypt from 22 Apr 1915 and at the time of his death due to wounds received in action in Palestine he held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He died of wounds on the Egyptian border of Palestine (near Gaza) on 25th November 1917 and was buried at Deir El Belah War Cemetery, Gaza, Palestine (grave id. B.160). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial, Shaftesbury, and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. There is no record of his mother being awarded a dependent's pension.