John HARTLEY (1)

28 July 1916

COWLING SOLDIER’S HEROIC FATE

Last week Mrs. Benson of Crag View, Cowling, received a private letter from Quartermaster Sergeant Frank Stephenson, informing her that her only son, Pte. Fred Benson, of the 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, had been killed in action on Tuesday, July 11th in the great offensive in France.

Another Cowling man, Corp. John Hartley, has since forwarded to Mrs. Benson full details in the following letter:– “Dear Mrs. Benson, – I have a sorrowful duty to discharge, to give you details of the circumstances under which your son met his death. On Monday afternoon a part of our brigade attacked a village for which there had previously been heavy fighting by other brigades. We were in support, and as dusk fell we moved out through a heavy barrage of fire to reinforce and to consolidate the position.

“That night and next day passed quietly. During the evening Fred and another lad went on listening post duty a little in front of the trench where we had dug ourselves in. A little later they gave the alarm and turned round to get back into the trench, but before they had gone a yard they were both hit by the Germans. A small enemy patrol had crept up within a short distance unobserved till quite close. Both staggered back somehow into the trench. A minute or two later when the alarm was over, I and two others got them out and did what we could, but it was to no avail, for he must have been bleeding internally. He was in some pain for a minute or two during which he said four times “Take me”, he then drifted into unconsciousness and a few minutes later passed quietly and gently away. He was hit in the back just above the left hipbone and the bullet passed through and out at the right groin. I was supporting his head when he died.

“We were relieved a few minutes later and had reluctantly to leave him there with his waterproof sheet over him. We went to get a stretcher to carry him out, but none were available. He will probably have been buried by now by the salvage Corp. We were all so upset. All the boys in the platoon wish me to convey to you their sincere sympathy in your loss, which is also in a less degree ours, for he was a cheerful, willing comrade. We shall all miss him very much. He was in great spirits, as were we all because of our successes of the past few days. We were all much affected by his and the other chap’s death.

“Again, assuring you of our sincere sympathy. Yours in sorrow, John Hartley.”

Pte. Benson enlisted in Kitchener’s Army along with 17 other Cowling young men in August 1914, and after the usual period of training went to France in September. Before enlisting, Pte. Benson was employed as a weaver at Messrs. J. Binns & Sons, Ltd., Carr Mills.

A memorial service was held at the United Methodist Church on Sunday morning, and was conducted by the Rev. C. E. Penrose, pastor, Pte. Benson, having passed through the Sunday School as a scholar. The choir sang the anthem ‘The Homeland’ and Miss Whitaker, the organist, played Beethoven’s ‘Funeral March’ and ‘O rest in the Lord.’ A memorial service was also held at the Parish Church, conducted by the Vicar. A similar service was held on Sunday evening at the Ickornshaw Wesleyan Church, conducted by Mr. Ward, of Nelson.

20 October 1916

HARTLEY – October 4th, killed in action in France, Sergt. John Hartley, West Riding Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Watson Hartley, Sunny Mount, Cowling, aged 21 years.

20 October 1916

COWLING – SERGEANT JOHN HARTLEY KILLED – A Promising Career Cut Short

On Saturday last the sad news was received that Sergeant John Hartley, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, had been killed in action on the 4th inst. The following letter from his commanding officer has been received by his parents:– “Dear Mrs. Hartley, – I believe Q.M.S. Frank Stephenson has already written to you informing 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.

“In deepest sorrow, I am, yours sincerely, PHILIP A. MORRIS, Second Lieutenant.”

The following letter was received by the same post from a Grassington comrade in the same Company:– “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hartley and Minnie, – 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 on the evening of October 4th, 1916, 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, cheerio.” 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, being shot through the head with a bullet. His cousin, Second Lieutenant Snowden (son of Mr. Keighley Snowdon, the novelist) was wounded in the same affair. 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 duties. He was very popular, both amongst Officers, N.C.O.s, and men, and we all mourned deeply the loss of so popular and efficient an N.C.O. We managed to get his body buried decently as possible under the circumstances, and his personal effects 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 find some consolation in knowing he died a hero’s death, fighting for the glorious cause of Freedom. His last thoughts were of home.
"Yours in deepest sympathy, WILLIAM OLDFIELD, C.S.M.”

Sergeant John Hartley, aged 21 years, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Watson Hartley, Sunny Mount, Cowling. Mr. Hartley is the senior partner of Messrs. J. Hartley (Cowling) Ltd., manufacturers, Acre Mills, Cowling, a well-established business, well known in the Bradford and Manchester trades. The deceased received his education at the Cowling Council School, and later at the Keighley Trade and Grammar School, gaining a four-year scholarship at the latter place. He also studied textile subjects for three years at the Glusburn Institute and during his last year there he took second place for linen weaving open to all England.

When the above business was transferred into a Limited Company, a few years ago, he was appointed secretary, and acted as such until his enlistment. He was a member of the United Methodist Church. He was also a most active worker in the Sunday School, being a teacher in the primary department, and the secretary of the United Bible Class. He joined the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment as private on September 16th 1914; promoted Lance-Corporal at Christmas, 1914; went to France August 26th, 1915; made Corporal Christmas 1915, and Sergeant in September last, having for the previous three months been Acting Sergeant.

His death is a great loss to the village, and the deepest sympathy is felt with the family.

27 October 1916

COWLING – MEMORIAL SERVICE

At the United Methodist Church on Sunday morning a memorial service was conducted by the Rev. C. E. Penrose (pastor) for the late Sergeant John Hartley, who was killed in action as reported in our issue last week. The spacious church was nearly filled by a sympathetic congregation. Mrs. Rennie Fort contributed Mendelssohn’s ‘O rest in the Lord’, the choir gave Dr. Parry’s anthem ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’, and Miss Whitaker played the Dead March in ‘Saul’ on the organ. Mr. Jos. Bradley was the conductor.