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James HARTLEY (1)

Main CPGW Record

Surname: HARTLEY

Forename(s): James

Place of Birth: Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire

Service No: 38110

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 16th (Service) Battalion. (1st Bradford)

Division: 31st Division

Age: 36

Date of Death: 1917-02-27

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 2 A 2 C and 2 D.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: BARNOLDSWICK, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

James Hartley was the son of Seth and Jane Hartley, née Sutcliffe. Both parents were born at Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

1881 Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire Census: 2, Moscow Mill Street - James Hartley, aged 3 months, born Oswaldtwistle, son of Seth and Jane Hartley.

1891 Darwen, Lancashire Census: 19, Grimshaw Street - James Hartley, aged 10 years, born Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, son of Seth and Jane Hartley.

1901 Darwen, Lancashire Census: 21, Pilkington Street - James Hartley, aged 20 years, born Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, son of Seth and Jane Hartley.

James was married to Jane Kitcher in 1901.

1911 Darwen, Lancashire Census: 21, Pilkington Street - James Hartley, aged 30 years, born Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, husband of Jane Hartley.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte James Hartley, 38110, West Yorkshire Regiment.

The informal title of the 16th (Service) Bn Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (1st Bradford) was the 1st Bradford Pals.

James is commemorated in the online Darwen Roll of Honour: www.cottontown.org

A short biography of James is included in: ‘Barnoldswick – A small Town’s part in conflicts 1800 to 2014’ by Peter Ian Thompson (2014).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

HARTLEY, James, aged 36 years, West Yorkshire Regiment, 19, Arthur Street, [Barnoldswick], killed in action, Feb. 27, 1917.

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No photo available for this Soldier
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 31st Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 31st Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: HARTLEY

Forename(s): James

Born: Oswaldtwistle, Lancs

Residence: Barnoldswick

Enlisted: Halifax, Yorks

Number: 38110

Rank: Private

Regiment: Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

Battalion: 16th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 27/02/17

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: HARTLEY

Forename(s): James

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 38110

Rank: Private

Regiment: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)

Unit: 16th Bn.

Age:

Awards:

Died Date: 27/02/1917

Additional Information:

View Additional Text

View Additional Text For Soldier Records

THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT IN THE WAR 1914-1918, Vol. II, by Everard Wyrall

16th (Service) Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) (1st Bradford)

On the night of 26/02/17 the 16th W. Yorks marched into the Hebuterne front line sector. The Battalion had been detailed to carry out an attack on Rossignol Wood at 6.30 a.m. on 27/02/17. The attack was carried out on a 2 company front with the 2 remaining companies in support. The leading companies, as ordered, were clear of the line of posts which had been formed on the Gommecourt-Puisieux road by 6.30 a.m. The right company reached the southern edge of the wood and entered by the trenches. A desperate struggle now ensued. The wood was a maze of trenches, in fact a very strong system which stretched from Puisieux to Gommecourt. The trenches which the right company entered were subjected to very heavy enfilade machine-gun fire and very soon the whole of three platoons were killed or wounded. The fourth platoon, however, took cover in shell-holes just west of the wood and it remained there all day, rejoining its Battalion at night. The Company Commander and the Second-in Command were both missing, the platoon commanders were wounded, and one managed to crawl out of the wood when darkness had fallen and reported back to Battalion HQ at 10.00 p.m.

Meanwhile the left company had better luck. Having cleared the old German third line about 5.20 a.m., it deployed in No Man’s Land, and, preceded by scouts well in advance, reached the Puisieux-Gommecourt road without incurring heavy casualties. The Company Commander then sent out one platoon up towards Pioneer Graben to occupy the high ground in the neighbourhood. But on reaching the trench the platoon was counter-attacked and driven back towards the Crucifix. A bombing party was then sent forward and succeeded in killing one and wounding several of the Germans, driving the remainder back 150 yards. The bombers then established blocks in Moltke and Pioneer Graben and a bombing post at the junction of these two trenches. The remainder of he left company then advanced, several men entering Rossignol Wood, but the majority dug themselves in in Stump Alley and Pioneer Graben, south-west of the Crucifix. Two platoons from the reserve companies of the battalion were then sent forward and these assisted in consolidating the position won.

The left company was shelled all day (it had indeed been under fire continuously from about 6.00am) but gallantly held on to its position until relieved at night.

[James Hartley was killed on the 27th February 1917.]

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Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

23 March 1917

HARTLEY – February 27th, killed in action in France, Pte. James Hartley, West Yorks. Regiment, of 19, Arthur Street, Barnoldswick, aged 36 years.

23 March 1917

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Pte. James Hartley, West Yorks. Regt., whose home was at 19, Arthur Street, Barnoldswick, was killed in action on the same date as the above (February 27th). He was 36 years of age and leaves a widow and three children. The family came from Darwen to reside at Barnoldswick last September and deceased joined up directly afterwards. He had been in France since the beginning of January.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

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West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

23 March 1917

HARTLEY – Feb. 27th, killed in action in France, Pte. James Hartley, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, of 19, Arthur Street, Barnoldswick, aged 36.

23 March 1917

BARNOLDSWICK

Pte. James Hartley, West Yorkshire Regiment, whose home was at 19, Arthur Street, Barnoldswick, was killed in action on the same date as the above (February 27th). He was 36 years of age and leaves a widow and three children. The family came from Darwen to reside at Barnoldswick last September, and deceased joined up directly afterwards. He had been in France since the beginning of January.

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