Final farewell to a silent war hero

Jan 1 2007 By James Cartledge

A HERO who was among just six Royal Navy commandos to survive a bloody Second World War battle has died aged 82.

Father-of-three Ken Hatton, from Ownall Road, Castle Bromwich, risked his life during the invasion of Elba in June, 1944.

The commandos' motto was First In, Last Out, because they were first onto the beaches in battle and the last to leave. No less than 38 of his fellow commandos were killed in the assault.

Mr Hatton's son, Phil, said his father was a brave man but chose not to discuss his heroics, even though he was decorated for his service.

"He was very brave," Phil said. "He was a strong and well-liked man. Dad was one of the lucky six who made it back and was one of the last survivors."

Mr Hatton's best friend was killed next to him during fighting which raged on the Italian island as Allied troops battled for control of the German stronghold.

The commandos seized a Nazi gun-boat protecting Elba's beaches.

But back-up forces failed to arrive on time and scores of commandos and prisoners were killed in a massive explosion as the Germans fought back.

The unit was disbanded months after the war ended and many veterans' families felt their heroics were too easily forgotten.

Mr Hatton was inspired to join up at just 17 when his own father, himself a First World War veteran, was killed in a German bombing raid on Pype Hayes in 1940.

His wife, Catherine, died 12 years ago but he regularly attended the Cenotaph in London for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations until his own health began to fail.

He was also a member of the Royal Navy Commando Association until it was disbanded because its members were dying off.

Mr Hatton's friend, Brian Tracey, from Erdington, knew him for 50 years. He described him as the kind of friend everyone would want in a crisis.

"Ken was a man's man," Mr Tracey said. "He would never walk away from any trouble. First in, last out - that was Ken."