James George Hatton was born in 1878 in Croft, Lancashire to James and Sarah Hatton who at the time of James George’s birth were farming at Southworth Hall. James George was one of six children and he attended Boteler Grammar School.
Sometime after the death of his mother Sarah in 1889 James Snr moved with his children and his elderly mother to Greenside Farm in Hatton. The family actively took part in the Annual Horticultural Show.
James George was in the post of Secretary at a young age and his siblings entered various classes. We see by the 1901 census that the Hatton family had moved from the village of Hatton, to Windmill lane ,Appleton. James Snr had retired from farming and his three son’s were in other employment.
Walter William was a Milling Engineer a profession that would take him all over the world and Argentina was where he brought up his family and passed away in 1947.
James George was a Clerk at Fairclough’s flour mill where later he would become manager of the Widnes Mill. Frank was a Bank Clerk he later would become Chief Actuary at the Head office of the Warrington ,Runcorn and District Saving’s Bank. Even though James George had moved from the village he continued to be secretary
James George’s military career began in 1902-1908 were he served as a Corporal in the Cheshire Yeomanry .
5th Oct 1914 -re-joined as a Private in the Cheshire Yeomanry Regimental Number 1205.
25th Nov 1914- appointed acting Lance Corporal
25th Feb 1915-appointed acting Lance Serjeant.
25th Aug 1915- commissioned as a Tempery 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery and went to France on the 30th Nov 1915 were he served with the 149th Brigade R.F.A 3oth Division.
2nd Nov 1916- slightly injured on his left hand while he was Adjutant of his Brigade.
12th Jan 1917-appointed acting Captain R.F.A
7th March 1918-appointed acting Major R.F.A
21st March 1918- seriously wounded on his left hip and was evacuated to Dover via Boulogne.
April -June 1920- he was a patient at the 3rd London General Hospital Wandsworth, his injury must have been severe as he had a special surgical boot made with a built in Calliper splint.
James George finished his commission due to ill health caused by his wounds on the 10th May 1920 and he was granted the rank of Major.
Military Cross (GV) 3rd June 1918
1914-1915 Star (Lieut)
British War Medal (Major)
WW1 Victory Medal (Major)
In the July of 1920 James George married Gertrude Constance Hall from “ Wellfield” Whitefield Rd Stockton , this residence would become their family home were they brought up their two daughters.
James George continued to take part in local associations he was once member of Stockton Heath Hockey team he became Hon Sec of the Hatton Horticultural Society and Hon Treasurer of the Appleton Habitation of the Primrose League.
Major James George Hatton M.C died in 1951 Stockton Heath and Gertrude in 1976.