L. A. Hayter | |
|---|---|
 Hayter,c. 1910 | |
| Born | Lawrence Ambrose Hayter (1893-04-13)13 April 1893 Upper Holloway, London, England |
| Died | 30 December 1917(1917-12-30) (aged 24) Hollebeke, Belgium |
| Burial place | I. H. 8.,Klein Vierstraat British Cemetery, Belgium 50°48′19″N02°50′20″E / 50.80528°N 2.83889°E /50.80528; 2.83889 |
| Occupations | Children's illustrator and writer |
| Notable work | The Children's Realm (1908–1914) |
| Partner | Gladys Cawston (engaged) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Bedfordshire Regiment, 6th Battalion |
| Conflicts | World War I † |
| Awards | British War Medal andVictory Medal |
| Memorials | Letchworth Cross |
Lawrence Ambrose Hayter (13 April 1893 – 30 December 1917) was an English children's illustrator and writer associated withvegetarian children's literature. He was the primary illustrator forThe Children's Realm, a magazine for children published by theVegetarian Federal Union and theLondon Vegetarian Society, to which he also contributed stories and articles. Hayter lived inLetchworth, where he worked as adraughtsman and was engaged to the musician Gladys Cawston. During theFirst World War, he initially registered as aconscientious objector, but later enlisted in theBedfordshire Regiment, 6th Battalion, and waskilled in action nearHollebeke, Belgium, in December 1917. A wartime letter by Hayter published in theChristian Science Sentinel described his experiences in the trenches and referred to the role ofChristian Science in his response to illness.
Lawrence Ambrose Hayter was born on 13 April 1893, inUpper Holloway, London, to Arthur William and Edith Rose Hayter; his father worked as anorgan builder.[1][2] At school he became friends withGerald Bullett and produced ajellygraphed school magazine, which he edited and illustrated with cartoons.[3]
Hayter lived inLetchworth, where he worked as adraughtsman.[2] He was engaged to the musician Gladys Cawston.[4]
Hayter was the primary illustrator forThe Children's Realm, a children's magazine published by theVegetarian Federal Union and theLondon Vegetarian Society.[5] His first illustration for the magazine appeared in its Christmas 1908 issue.[3]
In addition to illustrating the magazine, Hayter contributed numerous articles and stories, some of them co-written with Gerald Bullett.[2][3] His stories included "The Weather Kingdom", "The Land of Undh-Aneethe" (a tale of subterranean life where coal and fairies coexist), and "The Nimble Sixpence" (featuring a three-legged sixpence and a beetle with blue glasses).[6] In 1912, Bullett described Hayter as a "born artist" in an article about him for the magazine.[3]
The Children's Realm ceased publication in 1914.[7] In the same year, its editorGeorge Bedborough publishedStories from the Children's Realm, a children's storybook withanimal rights,anti-vivisection, andvegetarian themes, which included several illustrations by Hayter.[5]
During theFirst World War, Hayter initially registered as a conscientious objector, but later enlisted in theBedfordshire Regiment as aprivate in the6th Battalion.[8][9]
In the summer of 1917, Hayter was buried by ashell explosion and was mistakenly presumed dead.[4] In November that year, a letter by Hayter was published in theChristian Science Sentinel, in which he described his experiences in the trenches and stated that he had cured himself ofdysentery through the teachings ofChristian Science.[10]
Hayter waskilled in action by shelling in the trenches nearHollebeke, Belgium, on 30 December 1917. He was buried atKlein Vierstraat British Cemetery (I. H. 8.).[4] He was posthumously awarded theBritish War Medal andVictory Medal.[11] His name is recorded on the Letchworth Cross memorial.[8][12]
Media related toL. A. Hayter at Wikimedia Commons
