This man is a candidate for addition to Keighley's Supplementary Volume under the proposal to add further names in 2024, the centenary of the original roll of honour.
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Supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, our project intends to submit about 120 names for peer review to add them to the book which is kept at Keighley Library. The unveiling of the book with it's new names is planned for November 2024, 100 years after the unveiling of the original war memorial.
Sergeant, 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. Service no. 13687.
John Hartley, photo is courtesy of The Keighlian Magazine.
Early life:
John was born in Cowling in 1896, to parents Watson and Mary Ellen Hartley. Aged 5 in the 1901 census, he was living at Sun Street, Cowling, with his parents and sister Minnie. His father was a book keeper at a cotton weaving factory. John received his education at the Cowling Council School, and gained a four year scholarship to the Keighley Trade and Grammar School, which he attended for four years between 1907 and 1911, leaving when he was 15. He then studied textile subjects at the Glusburn Institute, and during his last year there took second place for linen weaving in all England.
The family had moved by 1911, to 'Sunny Mount' in Cowling and John was living there with his parents and his sister Minnie. John's father Mr. Watson Hartley was a senior partner of Messrs J. Hartley (Cowling), Limited, manufacturers, Acre Mills in Cowling, an old established business well known in the Bradford and Manchester trades.
When the business of Messrs Hartley was converted into a limited company a few years ago, his son John was appointed secretary, and he acted in that capacity until he enlisted. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, and was a most active worker in the Sunday school, being a teacher in the primary department, and secretary of the United Bible Class.
War service:
(Much of this is from the newspaper obituary, in the absence of an Army service record.)
John joined the West Riding Regiment at Cowling as a private in September, 1914 and was promoted to lance-corporal by Christmas the same year. The 10 Battalion, West Riding Regiment received orders to move for France on 23rd August 1915 and left Southampton for Le Havre, disembarking in France on the 26th.
John was promoted to corporal at Christmas, 1915. He became acting sergeant in June 1916 and was promoted to full sergeant after three months in the acting rank. He served with the 10th Battalion until he was killed in action on 4th October 1916.
WO-95/2/184/1 10th Battalion West Riding Regiment war diary entry:
Sheet: 57C.SW. Scale: 1:20000 Edition: 4A Published: 1916. Trenches corrected to 7 October 1916. https://maps.nls.uk/view/101724055
(They were situated between Destremont Farm and the village of Le Sars.)
Report on operations:
The 10th Battalion left PEAKE WOOD on the 1st October 1916 and went into the front lines the next day at GOURLEY TRENCH, relieving the 8th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
On the evening of the 4th orders were received to attack O.G.2. From M.21.b.5.8. To M.15.d.2.3. At 6.03 pm the attack was launched by 2 companies in three waves 80 yards distance between waves, The advance waves went forward right under our barrage but on the barrage lifting it was found that owing to the wet state of the ground the progress was exceedingly slow.
The enemy, therefore were enabled to bring an intense M.G. and rifle fire on our troops with the result that a few men only were enabled to reach the enemy's trench and eventually we were compelled to retire. The enemy then launched an immediate counter-attack which was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. The two companies which took part in the attack behaved with the utmost gallantry, 6 out of the 8 officers becoming casualties, but owing to the state of the ground and the enemy's wire being uncut in several places the task was impossible.
The battalion was relieved on the night of 5/6th and proceeded to MARTINPUICH.
Report by Major R. H. Gill of the 10th Battalion:
4th October 1916:
At dawn on 4.10.16 the 10 W.Rid.Regt. Occupied O.G.1 from main ALBERT – BAPAUME road to M.15.c.75.45 with Brigade HQ in 26th Avenue. Two strong bombing parties attacked up communication trenches to O.G.2 and were repulsed with heavy loss.
In the afternoon I received verbal orders to attack O.G.2 with two companies 10th W. Rid. Regt. from M.21.b.5.8. To M.15.d.25.30. I at once proceeded to O.G.1 and issued operation order no.1 (attached hereto and marked "B")
At 6.3 pm both companies went over the top and crept up under our barrage until it lifted at 6.8 pm. They then advanced under intense rifle fire and traversing fire from at least three machine guns. The ground was so heavy that it took them ten minutes to cover 50 yards. Some got to the German wire (which was practically intact) others as far as the enemy's parapet which was fully manned and where the enemy had no difficulty in dealing with them in their exhasuetd condition, 2nd Lieutenant H. Kelly, C.S.M.O'Shea and two men alone succeeded i entering the German trench remaining there bombing and fighting down it until enemy reinforcements arrived overland, killed one man and wounded the C.S.M. 2Nd Lt. Kelly then retired carrying the C.S.M. back to our own lines. Here with the assistance of part of "C" Company he repelled a German counter-attack. These two companies behaved with the utmost gallantry but their task being an impossible one they failed to take the trench and were decimated.
The 10th W.Rid Regt. continued to hold O.G.1 until relieved by the 11th W. Yorks Regt on the night of the 5th Oct. When it withdrew to MARTINPUICH, arriving there at 4 am on the 6th.
Two letters were published in the Keighley News 21st October 1916, page 5 as part of a long newspaper obituary for John:
Second Lieutenant Philip A. Morris said:
"I believe Quartermaster-Sergeant F. Stephenson has already written to you of the death in action of your son, but as his platoon commander I should also like to assure you and your family of my deepest sympathy in your sorrow. He died a gallant death in an attack on the German trenches, and we were able to recover his body two days later and bury him on the field. In the short time I have been with the platoon I have found him to be a very good N.C.O., always cheerful and willing, and the Army has lost a good officer, as I understand he was awaiting a commission. Once again let me assure you of my sympathy."
Company Sergeant Major William Oldfield (a Grassington comrade) wrote:
"It almost breaks my heart to have to convey to you the sad news of the death in action of your son John. In the first place we had to report him as missing, but his body has now been found. He fell along with many others of our company in a charge we made on the enemy lines... and really it was a wonder how some of us did get back, his body was found alongside that of Mr. Harris, our company commander.
It feels cruel to me to have to write this, but I should consider I had failed in my promise to one of the best of friends, had I not done so. I saw him a minute before we went over the top of the trench, and he said,"write and give my love to all at home if anything happens to me." I replied, "All right John, Cheer oh!" That was the last I saw of him. He fell leading his men, for his body was found on the German parapet, death being instantaneous - shot through the head with a bullet.
His cousin, Second Lieutenant Snowden, son of Mr. Keighley Snowden, the novelist - was wounded in the same charge, I can imagine what a sad blow it will be to you, and I repeat, it makes my heart ache to be the bearer of such sad news, but it is my duty. As a friend I found him to be one of the best; always true to his promise, never failing in his duty. he was very popular, both amongst officers, N.C.O.'s, and men, and we all mourn deeply the loss of so popular and efficient and N.C.O.
We managed to get his body buried as decently as possible under the circumstances, and his personal affects will be forwarded on to you in due course. I trust God will sustain and strengthen you in this sad loss of your only son and brother. I trust you will get some slight consolation in knowing he died a hero's death, fighting for the glorious cause of freedom. His last thoughts were of home."
From his 'Keighlian' Obituary:
Sergeant John Hartley was a pupil from 1907 to 1911. Coming to the school with a County Scholarship, he fully justified the distinction he had won by his earnestness and ability as a student. He passed the Oxford Local Examination, Senior Division, before leaving. Afterwards he entered business with his father, Mr Watson Hartley, Worsted Manufacturer, Cowling, and was already showing great promise in his work when war broke out. An only son, and with every prospect of a successful career, he was one of the first volunteers in Kitchener's Army.
Some of the older boys will remember that cold morning when the first contingent passed before the school through a line of cheering schoolboys. Sergeant Hartley was amongst that gallant company, so cheerful in demeanour and so poorly provided in equipment that the School immediately gave all the Camp blankets to them.
He joined the Army as a private, but received promotion before going to France. He went to France in August, 1915, and served there until October, 1916, when he was killed in a charge which was made on the German lines.
In a letter which was written home by his platoon commander, the following passage occurs, which shows that John Hartley's boyhood was a true foreshadowing of his manhood: "He died a gallant death in an attack on the German trenches. In the short time I have been with the platoon I have found him to be a very good N.C.O., always cheerful and willing. The Army has lost in him a good officer, as I understood he was awaiting a commission."
John Hartley was 21 years of age, and the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Watson Hartley.
He is buried in Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont. The family inscription on his headstone reads: "To Duty Firm, To Conscience True, Sweet Rest In Heaven.
He is also remembered on the Holy Trinity Church War Memorial, Cowling.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his war service. These would have been sent to his father who was his next of kin and sole legatee in his will. He would also have received a great war memorial plaque and scroll along with any personal effects and any outstanding pay in John's account.
Information sources:
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
WWI Medal index cards, 1914-1920
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920
WO-95/2/184/1 10th Battalion West Riding Regiment war diary
Craven's Part in the Great War
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library
Keighlian Magazine (Andy Wade collection)
National Library of Scotland trench maps
