Lawrence Batty

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Portrait photo source: The Star, 21 June 1944

Lawrence Batty was born on the 25th of July 1918, the son of Thomas & Charlotte Batty (née Dronfield) who married in St. James’s Church, Sheffield on the 26th of December 1904. Thomas Batty, 23, was a Blacksmith, and resided at 12 Court 8 House, Bailey Street, Sheffield. His bride, Charlotte Dronfield, 20, was a Domestic and lived at the same address as Thomas. Charlotte signed with her mark ‘X.’

We see the young couple on the 1911 census living at 115, Carlisle Street East, Sheffield. Thomas Batty, 30, was employed as a Stoker at John Willey & Sons Rolling Mills. 4 children had been born, but 1 had died. This was altered by the Enumerator to 3 children born, 1 dying.

In the census taken on the 19th of June 1921, the family had grown. Thomas was working as a Boiler Fireman at John Brown & Co. Ltd., Atlas Steel Works, Saville St. East, Sheffield. Their children were: Evelyn Batty, 17 years old, who was employed as a draper's shop assistant; Thomas Batty, 12 years old; Albert Batty, 8 years old; Wilfred Batty, 5 years old; Lawrence Batty 2 years; and Edmund Batty, 5 months old.

Between 1921 and 1939, Charlotte had left home and she is seen on the 1939 National Register living at 102, Kinnaird Street, Sheffield as a Housekeeper to Horace Hibberd who was working as Planer Steel Products, engaged on Aircraft Work (War Office). She eventually married Horace in 1957 after the death of her husband, Thomas, in 1956.

The 1939 National Register, which had been taken on the 29th of September 1939, shows Thomas, Lawrence and Edmund Batty living at 426, Main Road, Sheffield with Thomas’ married daughter, Evelyn Bunting, and her husband and family. Thomas was working as a Boiler Cleaner at the Steelworks, Lawrence was a Colliery Pony Driver, below ground for the Nunnery Colliery and Edmund Batty was a Colliery Surface Worker above ground.

Sadly, I have no information on Lawrence Batty, neither his early or teen years, and I do not know when he was to enlist, or was conscripted, but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom.

He was a crew member on LCT 898, 41st LCT Flotilla which was assigned to land troops on Sword Beach on D-Day. He was killed when a German shell hit the port winch house of the landing craft after they landed on Sword Beach. His body was transferred to LSI(S) HMS Prinses Astrid and he was buried at sea in mid channel on the passage home. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial to the Missing, Kent.

Lawrence Batty's Commanding Officer of LCT 898, Charles Flynn, said this about him: "..may I add a tribute to A/B S/T Laurence (sic) Batty, the rating who was killed. He was a Senior Rating of great character who had refused all offers of further advancement in order to remain part of the ship's company. He was a Sheffield lad who demonstrated all the true grit of that great county and a true patriot"