Johnny Doyle: Bather

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Monday, 20 July 2026

Leonard Horace Charles Hatton (1888-1980)

Mentioned alongside Arthur John Bather in Egypt and aid to the Long Range Desert Group is Leonard Horace Charles Hatton.

He entered the Great War as a Sergeant in the 20th Hussars. Commissioned shortly afterwards, he served through the war and survived earning a Military Cross in 1918.

In 1921 he was in Constantinople. It's not clear when he got to Egypt first but in 1926 he is awarded the Order of the Nile while commanding the Egyptian Frontiers Administration Camel Corps and Car Patrol.

Egyptian Frontiers Administration officer Major David Johnston Wallace (ex-Royal Scots Fusiliers) wrote up a short report about the organization and work of the Camel Corps and Car Patrol :

Hatton gets a very brief mention in Major Dun's book about the 12th Lancers Expedition to Siwa oasis.

In 1937, the Car Patrol appears to have been using Ford Cars and have had at least one unit with Vickers Machine Guns accoding to the British Military Report on Egypt

Hatton's OBE in 1941 does not appear directly related to the frontline war.

Born 11^th April 1888, Kensington London,

Father William (1844-1893), mother Hannah Ross (1848-1904)

Died 7^th November 1980 The Spinney Woodside Morley Derbyshire

1911 Census

20^th Hussars, Lance Sergeant.

20^th Hussars

Sergeant, number 5277

Entered France 16^th Aug 1914. Clasp and Rose for 1914 Star.

LONDON GAZETTE 23 October 1914

War Office, 23rd October, 1914.

REGULAR FORCES.

The undermentioned to be Second Lieutenants for service in the Field: —

Dated 16th September, 1914.

20th Hussars, Squadron Serjeant-Major Ernest Frederick Wyborn.

Serjeant Leonard Hatton.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28949/page/8515

LONDON GAZETTE 08 December 1914

War Office, 9th December, 1914. Revised and corrected list of names appended to Sir John French's Despatch, dated 8th October, 1914 (including those published for the first time in the London Gazette, dated 4th December, 1914).

No. 5277 Serjeant L. Hatton

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29001/supplement/10538

Marriage

October 1915 to Ella Lucy Margaret Gosling.

LONDON GAZETTE 16 July 1918

Military Cross

Lt. (A./Capt.) Leonard Horace Charles Hatton, Hrs. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great gallantry in searching a village still containing several hostile machine guns and snipers who were causing losses. He performed this difficult and dangerous task with great coolness and showed a fine example of courage.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30801/supplement/8462

1921 Census

20^th Hussars, Constantinople

LONDON GAZETTE 30 April 1926

Whitehall, April 28, 1926.

The KING has. been pleased to give and grant unto Leonard Horace Charles Hatton, Esq., M.C., Camel Corps and Car Patrols, Frontiers Administration, War Office, Cairo, His Majesty's Royal licence and authority to wear the Insignia of the Fourth Class of the Order of the Nile, which Decoration has been conferred upon him by His Majesty the King of Egypt, in recognition of valuable services rendered by him.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33156/page/2930

LONDON GAZETTE 5 April 1929

15^th/19^th H.—Capt. L. H. C. Hatton, M.C., retires on ret. pay, 6th Apr. 1929, and is granted the rank of Maj.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33483/page/2280/data.pdf

LONDON GAZETTE 01 June 1934

OBE

Major Leonard Horace Charles Hatton, M.C., retired pay, Reserve of Officers, 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars, attached Egyptian Army, Officer Commanding, Camel Corps and Car Patrols, Frontiers Administration.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34056/page/3562

LONDON GAZETTE 8 FEBRUARY, 1938

ORDER OF THE NILE.

Insignia of Commander.

Major Leonard Horace Charles Hatton, O.B.E., M.C.

Robert Augustin Gardner, Esq., B.Sc., M.B., Ch.M.

Arnold Kirkpatrick Henry, Esq., M.B., M.Ch., F.R.C.S.I.

Jasper Wyndham Macaldin, Esq.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34480/page/809/data.pdf

Who’s Who Le Mondain Egypt 1941

BRITISH MILITARY MISSION TO THE EGYPTIAN ARMY

Frontier Force

Col. R.H.C. Hatton, O.B.E., M.C. ;

Lt. Col. A.J. Bather, R.T.C.

BATHER, Major A.J., R.T.C., attache, British

Military Mission to the Egyptian Army, 7, rue

Amir Fouad, Zamalek, [II] 56765, Caire.

https://archive.org/stream/TheEgyptianWhosWho1941/LeMondainEgyptien1941.PartI_djvu.txt

Arthur John Bather

Lurking in the texts of a number of books relating to Ralph Bagnold and the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) is A J Bather (aka Bather Bay or "Tom" Bather) but rarely does he make it to indexes of the books or get a mention by his full name.

One of the last class of WW1 Sandhurst graduates, Arthur John Bather was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenantt with the Hampshire Regiment on the 20th December 1918. He later transferred to the Tanks Corps and would be in Sollum, Egypt with 3rd Armoured Car Company in 1921. This unit was using 1914 Pattern Rolls-Royce armoured cars inherited from the Duke of Westminster's Squadron.

Bather introduced Lt Victor Christian Holland, Royal Signals Corps, to desert exploration by car. Holland in turn introduced Ralph Bagnold. Holland is generally referred to in books simply as V C Holland and I'm not aware of any that give his full name.

While Holland and Bagnold continued exploring the desert (film available to view via the British Film Institute), Bather was back in the UK working for the inter war Tank & Tracked Transport Experimental Establishment and then as Adjutant of the Mechanical Warfare Experimental Establishment.

Seconded to the Foreign Office and working with the Egyptian Frontiers Administration, Bather would be retained as Second in Command of the Camel Corps and Light Car Patrol. He was in Siwa Oasis when the very first patrol of Bagnold's newly formed LRDG arrived in 1940. Bather and his men assisting the LRDG men complete their mission.

LONDON GAZETTE 21 January 1919

REGULAR FORCES.

The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the R. Mil. Coll., to be 2nd Lts. With effect from the 20th December, 1918: —

Hampshire Regiment:—

Arthur John Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31140/supplement/1185

Sandhurst Collection Record

https://sandhurstcollection.co.uk/people/3901308-cadet-arthur-bather-register-entry

LONDON GAZETTE 25 June 1920

Tanks Corps

The undermentioned 2nd Lts. are apptd. to the Corps, 20 May 1920, with seniority from the dates specified against the names : —

L. D. Crocker (Devon. R.). 20 Dec. 1918.

A. J. Bather ,(Hamps. R.). 20 Dec. 1918.

A. W. Billing (Hamps. R.). 16 Jul. 1919.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31956/supplement/6984

Census 19 June 1921

Sollum Garrison, Egypt.

Lt Arthur John Bather

LONDON GAZETTE 14 September 1923

The undermentioned to be Lts., 15th Sept. 1923, with seniority as stated:—

Lt. A. J. Bather, from Hampshire R. 20th Dec. 1920.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32862/page/6199

LONDON GAZETTE 29 July 1927

ESTABLISHMENTS.

The undermentioned appt. is made:—

Tank & Tracked Transport Experimental Establishment.

Spec. Appt. (Cl. GG) —

Lt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps. 20th July 1927

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33298/page/4910

LONDON GAZETTE 16 August 1927

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Lt. A. J. Bather is secd, whilst holding an appt. at the Tank and Tracked Transport Exptl. Estabt. 20th July 1927.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33303/page/5333

LONDON GAZETTE 11 October 1929

ESTABLISHMENTS.

The undermentioned appts. are made. 1st Oct. 1929: —

Lt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, from Exptl. Offr. (C1. GG), to be Adjt., Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33542/page/6477

LONDON GAZETTE 15 October 1929

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Lt. A. J. Bather remains secd, whilst Adjt., Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt. 1st Oct. 1929.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33543/page/6549

LONDON GAZETTE 22 January 1932

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

The undermentioned Lts., to be Capts. 30th Nov. 1931, and remain secd. : —

A. J. Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33792/page/487

LONDON GAZETTE 03 April 1934

ESTABLISHMENTS

Capt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, as Adjt. Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt. 1st Apr.. 1934.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34038/page/2186

LONDON GAZETTE 08 May 1934

The undermentioned are restd. to the estabt. 1st Apr. 1934: —

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Capt. A. J. Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34048/page/2939

LONDON GAZETTE 20 November 1934

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Capt. A. J. Bather is secd, for serv. under the Foreign Office. 26th Oct. 1934.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34106/page/7440

Zerzura Club 1935 Meeting

https://www.fjexpeditions.com/frameset/zerzuraclub.htm

LONDON GAZETTE 14 May 1937

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Capt. A. J. Bather is restd. to the estabt. 1st May 1937.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34398/page/3185

LONDON GAZETTE 11 January 1938

The undermentioned are granted local rank whilst empld. with the British Mil. Mission, Egyptian Army, 1st Jan. 1938:—

Maj. L. H. C. Hatton, O.B.E., M.C., Res. of Off., I5th/i9th H., to be local Col.

(Leonard Horace Charles Hatton)

Capt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, to be local Maj.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34472/page/193

LONDON GAZETTE 05 August 1938

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Major?

A. J. Bather

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34538/supplement/5027

Who’s Who Le Mondain Egypt 1941

BRITISH MILITARY MISSION TO THE EGYPTIAN ARMY

Frontier Force

Col. R.H.C. Hatton, O.B.E., M.C. ;

Lt. Col. A.J. Bather, R.T.C.

BATHER, Major A.J., R.T.C., attache, British

Military Mission to the Egyptian Army, 7, rue

Amir Fouad, Zamalek, [II] 56765, Caire.

https://archive.org/stream/TheEgyptianWhosWho1941/LeMondainEgyptien1941.PartI_djvu.txt

LONDON GAZETTE 228 March 1941

OBE

To be Additional Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —

Major (local Lieutenant-Colonel) Arthur John Bather (17918), Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35120/supplement/1866

National Army Museum Collection

1994-02-156

Five letters, two in Polish with translations, written to Major A J Bather, HQ British Advisory Staff, Polish Resettlement Corps, Feb to Mar 1948.

Marriage 14 Oct 1948 London, England

Chelsea

Honoria Mary Carter/Sharples

LONDON GAZETTE 15 April 1949

ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS.

RTR.

Maj. A. J. BATHER, O.B.E. (17918), retires on ret. pay, 16th Apr. 1949.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38586/supplement/1887

LONDON GAZETTE 18 November 1949

R.T.R.

Maj. A. J. BATHER, O.B.E. (17918), having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res. of Offrs., 24th Oct. 1949.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38762/supplement/5463

Friday, 17 July 2026

1921 Census British Troops in Ireland (and Worldwide) : No 5 Armoured Car Company, Dublin; No 3 Armoured Car Company, Sollum.

Though there was no 1921 census for the general population in Ireland due to the War of Independence, British military units/personnel stationed in the country were recorded as part of the England/Wales dataset. Ditto for those stationed worldwide.

The image below is the cover sheet for the 1921 census record for No 5 Armoured Car Company (ACC), Tank Corps based at Marlborough (now McKee) Barracks in Dublin. The unit had evolved from the very successful 17th (Armoured Car) Battalion and they were getting to grips with their new 1920 Pattern Rolls-Royce armoured cars at the time of the census in June 1921.

This census cover sheet is signed off by Major Douglas Henry Pratt, formerly of the Royal Irish Regiment. He moved to the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) in 1916 and then to the Tank Corps. Pratt continued to serve and was in France in 1940 leading 1st Tank Brigade. After Dunkirk, he was posted to Washington DC to work with the Roosevelt administration to supply equipment to the British, e.g. Sherman tanks.

Pratt is one of over 145k MGC personnel in the VMGCRA/Sacker database hosted by the UK National Archives, reference "SKR/DAT/IP/31975", which can be searched for via the following link :

Link to UK National Archives Discovery Tool

The 1921 British military census records can be found on FindMyPast, with the Piece field being particularly useful for pinning down locations to search as entering Ireland , India, Mesopotamia etc is not an option - Country is set to "Armed Forces Overseas" :

Link to FindMyPast Guide to British Service Personnel in the 1921 Censuscensus---british-armed-forces-overseas

Searching for the keywords "Tanks Corps" with the combined Pieces values for Ireland returns a list of 272 entries while "Machine Gun" as the keywords returns 848 entries.

I have left the link to FindMyPast in it's raw form so that the Piece numbers (28216 to 28133 etc) can be seen in the URL :

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/results?_page=5&o=lastname&d=asc&datasetname=1921%20census%20of%20england%20%26%20wales&keywords=tank%20corps&country=armed%20forces%20overseas&book=28128~28126~28125~28127~28129~28130~28131~28132~28133

A picture of Douglas Pratt

His medal set was up for sale in 2023 :

https://auction.gorringes.co.uk/auction-lot-detail/A-DSO,-MC-medal-group-awarded-to-Major-General-Douglas-Henry&salelot=LDEC23+++552+&refno=90107803

The Second in Command of No 5 ACC was Vyvyan Pope,. Ronald Lewin's book about Pope, "Man of Armour. A Study of General Vyvyan Pope CBE DSO MC and the development of armoured warfare" carries the following passage re Pope's initial impression on joining No 5 ACC :

He and Pratt would work together on the pre-war Tank Board.

Pope would also serve in France in 1940.

Pope also served in Egypt as the CO of No 3 Armoured Car Company, taking on some of the 1914 Pattern Rolls-Royces used by the Duke of Westminsters Squadron during the Tara Rescue in 1916.

Among the officers at Sollum in the 1921 census awaiting Pope's arrival was Arthur John Bather, commissioned after completing the last wartime officers course at Sandhurst.

Searching FindMyPast with Piece numbers 28111 to 28113 covering Egypt, Sudan and Cyprus returns over 14000 entries :

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/results?datasetname=1921+census+of+england+%26+wales&sid=103&keywordsplace_proximity=5&country=armed+forces+overseas&book=28111%7e28112%7e28113

Under Pope's direction, Bather would find himself patrolling the desert and encouraging others, starting a chain which would ulitmately lead to the creation of the Long Range Desert Group.