In January 1906, when the artist Brian Hatton returned to Oxford, he became aquainted with Gerald Siordet of Balliol. A close and lasting friendship grew up between them. In January 1912 when Hatton was twenty-four he set up to a studio in London. This studio in South Kensington provided somewhere to live but also a place where he could work on the commissions he hoped to attract. Siordet was also a painter and they shared the studio which they called The Bronze Door. In 1914, when war was declared, commissions were scarce and Hatton found himself very short of money. In August he returned to Hereford and enlisted in the Worcester Yeomanry as a trooper. Just before leaving London he sold a picture. The subject was Siordet wearing a helmet. 'But I only got 35 guineas for it.' It was Siordet, on hearing of Hatton's death in Egypt 1916, who wrote to his cousin Captain Val Burkhardt for more information. Burkhardt was serving in Egypt at the time and visited the site of the Battle of Katia which took place on Sunday 23rd April 1916. He arranged for a small memorial - '2 Lieut Brian Hatton Worcester Yeomanry. A fine artist and a gallant soldier. 23rd April 1916 R.I.P'