10076 Private George HATHAWAY was born 19th February 1897 in Stow-on-the-Wold, son of Frederick and Kate HATHAWAY. He was christened Frederick George at St Edward, Stow-on-the-Wold on 16th May 1897.
George enlisted at Stow-on-the-Wold and was posted to 'B' Company, 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. On 18th December 1914 the Battalion embarked at Southampton aboard the City of Chester. They were now part of 81st Brigade along with 1st Battalion, Royal Scots, 2nd Battalion, Cameron Highlanders, and 1st Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. They arrived at Le Havre and moved to Aire by train.
The Battalion was in trenches near St Eloi from January to March 1915. They moved east to Ypres where, from 18th to 21st, their lines were shelled. On 24th April George was slightly wounded at Potijze Chateau, which was within British lines throughout almost all the war. The Chateau was used as an Advanced Dressing Station but was eventually destroyed by shellfire.
On 8th May they were heavily engaged by a German attack at Frezenberg. On 9th May after a heavy bombardment which hit the front line, the Germans advanced and broke into the Glosters' trenches. During this action the Glosters' Commanding Officer was killed. The Battalion was relieved the next day with 5 officers and 140 men's names on the casualty list of dead, wounded or missing. George was one of the missing believed killed on 9th May. He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Memorial: Tower Wall, St Edward, Stow-on-the-Wold.
L'est we forget
