Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Pvt. Lawrence Hatch Reported Missing in Action, 1918

From the Hickory Daily Record, Nov. 18, 1918

Lawrence W. Hatch Reported Missing

A telegram received today by Mrs. R.V. Hatch of Burlington, who is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Harry E. Whitener, announced that her son, Private Lawrence W. Hatch, had been missing in action since October 29 when the 30th division was completing its work with the British south of Valenciennes. Mr. Hatch was slightly wounded on September 29 and several letters had been received by his mother and other relatives from him.

When the telegram came today announcing that he was missing, the family thought a mistake had been made, but Mr. Whitener had the first message confirmed, and it seems that the young man had recovered, joined Co. I, of which he was a member, and gone back into the fray. He was on scout duty and must have been on the patrols in advance of the division.

Mr. Hatch was about 19 years of age and enlisted in the Burlington company. It is hoped that he will be found, though the family is not counting on this good fortune. He has another brother, Mr. Atlas Hatch, in France, and another brother, Chief Yeoman Earl A. Hatch, U.S. navy, who is on a visit to his mother and sister here.


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