Private Richard Frederick Hatherley
20943 7th Kings own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Killed in Action 4th July 1916, aged 25
born Burnley and enlisted Nelson.
Lived at 17 Rawson Street
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France
St.Andrews Memorial, Burnley
Burnley Express 22nd July 1916 - 7th July 1917

On the 4th July 1916 the 7th King’s Own found themselves fighting on the Somme and attacking up Sausage Valley to the village of La Boisselle. Aided by machine guns and mortars they advanced against a stubborn defence. By just after noon, only the northern extremity of the village remained in the enemy hands. Casualties of the 7th Battalion on the 4th July 1916 were 16 men killed, 66 were wounded and 2 men reported missing, these were remarkably light considering the success of the Battalion on the 4th July.

SHOT BY SNIPER “One of the Best and Brightest” (Burnley Express 22nd July 1916)

On Wednesday evening Mrs. Hatherley, of 17 Rawson Street, Burnley received an official intimation from the War Office that her husband, Private Richard Frederick Hatherley, of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment., had been killed in action on July 4th 1916. Private Hatherley, who was 25 years of age, formerly worked as a weaver at Messrs. Stuttard’s Shed, and enlisted in September of last year. He was connected with St. Andrew’s Church and was well known and highly respected in the Burnley Lane District.
The first news of his death came from his “Pal,” Private A. Berry, who wrote; “I write these few lines expressing my sympathy and sorrow with you. On the morning of the 4th your husband was killed while on action. He and I were going up a trench together when all of a sudden I heard somebody shout, I turned round, and found that he had been hit in the head by a bullet. He suffered no pain. He died instantly. I then set to work and buried him. I made him a very nice grave.”
Private Hatherley’s Officer has written; “I am writing to tell you how much I sympathise with you in the recent loss. Your husband was one of the best and brightest men in the Company. It will comfort you to know that he was killed instantaneously, and suffered no pain. He was shot by a sniper.”

ROLL OF HONOUR
HATHERLEY-In loving memory of my dear husband, Private Richard F. Hatherley, who fell in action on the Battle of the Somme, July4th, 1916.

There is a link death cannot sever,
Love and remembrance will last forever.
-From his sorrowing Wife, and all at 91 Queen Victoria Road.

In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private Richard F. Hatherley, King’s Own Royal Lancasters, who was killed in the Somme Battle, July 4th1916.

Like the ivy on the withered oak,
When all things also decay,
Our love for you, dear son and brother,
Will never fade away.
-From his sorrowing Mother and Father, Sisters and Brothers (in France), and Pelly.