Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eric Francis Seaforth Hayter who was killed in action in France on 21st March 1918 was the son of Colonel Frederick James Hayter. He was born in 1892 and entered the Preparatory School in 1902 leaving in 1903 and subsequently going to Kings and Hutchins Schools in Hobart till 1907 and to Brisbane Grammar School till 1910. He joined the Royal Artillery in England in 1916, and was first posted to 87th Battery R.F.A. as 2nd Lieutenant, subsequently being transferred to 53rd Battery, then to a Trench Mortar Unit, and later to 87th Battery (Howitzer) R.F.A. He took part in the campaigns on the Somme and in Northern France in 1916 and 1917 until the German great offensive which commenced on 21st March 1918, when he was killed near Lagnicourt. On that date 87th Battery R.F.A. was attached to 2nd Brigade and formed part of the 6th Division of 3rd Army, and from official sources the following account is taken: The forward section of 87th Battery under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Hayter consisted of three 4.5 howitzers which were dug in about 1,000 yards from the main battery position; the personnel consisted of 2nd Lieutenant Hayter and 18 others, and of these all except four were killed; the four were taken prisoners of war, but only two of them survived. All gun ammunition was used up, and it was impossible, owing to the intensity of the enemy's fire, to obtain more. The guns after this were rendered useless by breaking sights, removing working parts etc. The forward rifle ammunition was expended, when they were overwhelmed by the enemy. One of the only two survivors states that "2nd Lieutenant Hayter was during this time wounded on the face and had a part of his right hand shot away, but continued to hearten his men and would not hear of giving in. He was known to have said more than once previously that the Germans should never take him prisoner , and they certainly did not do so, because when they were coming within pistol range he deliberately stood out, revolver in his left hand, and be gesture invited the Germans to come on and take him, but this they had no intention of doing, for they shot him through the head with a rifle bullet."

War Services Old Melburnians 1914 - 1918