Laurence Hawley Watres (July 18, 1882 – February 6, 1964) was an attorney and politician from Scranton, Pennsylvania. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1923 to 1931.
A native of Scranton, and the son of a prominent Pennsylvania political and business figure, Watres graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School and practiced in Scranton. In addition, he was involved in several businesses, as well as charitable and civic endeavors. A longtime National Guard member, Watres was a veteran of the Pancho Villa Expedition and World War I, and received the Distinguished Service Cross for wartime heroism during combat in France.
In 1922, Watres was elected to the U.S. House. he was reelected three times, and served from 1923 to 1931. During his Congressional service, Watres largely concentrated on veterans' issues and the regulation of the growing air mail and commercial aviation fields. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1930, and resumed practicing law in Scranton. In addition, he became the publisher of the Scranton Republican newspaper.
In 1951, Watres moved to East Orange, New Jersey, where he lived in retirement. He died on February 6, 1954, while on vacation in San Germán, Puerto Rico. He was buried at Glenwood Mausoleum in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.
Early life
Laurence H. Watres was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on July 18, 1882, the son of Louis Arthur Watres and Effie J. (Hawley) Watres. He attended the public schools of Scranton and The Hill School, then began attendance at Princeton University, from which he graduated with an AB degree in 1904.
After college, Watres attended Harvard Law School, and he received his LL.B. degree in 1907. He was admitted to the bar later in 1907 and commenced practice in Scranton. Watres was a lifelong bachelor; he never married, and had no children.
Military career
Early career
In March 1899, Watres joined the Pennsylvania National Guard's Company K, 11th Infantry Regiment as a private, and he served until being discharged in November 1899. In October 1907 he joined Company H, 13th Infantry Regiment as a private, and he advanced to corporal and sergeant before receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in July 1908. Watres was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1909, captain in March 1916, major in October 1918, and lieutenant colonel in April 1921.
As a captain, Watres commanded Company C, 13th Infantry Regiment during its service on the Mexico–United States border as part of the Pancho Villa Expedition.
World War I
At the start of World War I, Watres commanded Company M, 109th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 28th Division. He was subsequently assigned to command the division's Company B, 108th Machine Gun Battalion.
Watres took part in numerous battles, and was wounded at the Battle of Fismes and Fismette in September 1918. During action near Baslieux-lès-Fismes, Watres took the initiative to assume command of Company D, 109th Infantry, which had lost all its officers and was falling into disorganization. He combined the company with soldiers from his own company and led an ad hoc attack that resulted in numerous enemy killed, wounded, and taken prisoner, as well as the capture of several machine gun nests.
Watres was hospitalized while he recovered from his wounds, after which he was assigned to command the 101st Machine Gun Battalion, a unit of the 26th Division. He later took command of the 109th Machine Gun Battalion, which he led until it was demobilized in May 1919, following the end of the war. For his wartime service, Watres was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart.
Post-war
After returning to the United States after the war, Watres took part in reorganizing the 109th Infantry Regiment. He was appointed its second-in-command with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and continued to serve until retiring in 1928. In 1926, a delegation from the Polish Army Veterans Association presented Watres with Haller's Swords, a decoration named for General Józef Haller which commended Watres's service on behalf of Polish independence during World War I.