Pte 16521 Alfred Hartley

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: IV.C.8

16521 Private Alfred HARTLEY, 18^th Battalion KLR.

Alfred was born at 237 West Derby Road, Liverpool on 10th November 1896. He was the youngest of six children born to John Hartley, in his own business as a greengrocer/poulterer, and his wife Ruth Hall (nee Hitchen) Hartley. John was born in Maghull and Ruth in Tarporley and their banns were read at St Mary, West Derby in Aug/Sept 1874(a family tree says they married at St Helen, Tarporley). Alfred was baptised on the 3rd December 1896 at St Margaret, Anfield.  

His father stood for parliament as explained in the Liverpool Mercury on the 04th February 1888: 

The Walton Election. 

As returning officer for the city, the Mayor (Mr T. W. Oakshott) sat at the Town Hall yesterday morning to receive nominations of candidates for the vacancy in the representation of Walton Parliamentary Division. 

John Hartley, 237 West Derby Road; 

In 1901 and 1911, the family lived at 237 West Derby Road, Liverpool, the Gore’s Directory list John as a fruiterer. 

The 1901 census shows father John aged 50, a shopkeeper born in Maghull, his mother, Ruth H. is aged 46, born in Eaton, Cheshire, their children were all born in Liverpool; Richard 25 a salesman, John 20 a steward at sea, Ruth 11, William 9 and Alfred 4. Also staying are niece Eliza Moseley 25, and son? Ernest Hartley 18.   

On the 1911 census John aged 60, is still in business as a greengrocer/poulterer, mother Ruth Hall, assisting in the business, is aged 56, they have been married for 36 years, and have had had 12 children, only 6 still alive), children Ruth 21, assisting in the business, William 17, assisting in the business, and Alfred 14. Also still present is Eliza Moseley 35. 

When Alfred enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16521. He gave his age as 19 years and 60 days, his occupation as a clerk with Messrs George Henry Lee Ltd in Liverpool and his next of kin as his father, John, of Denton Grove, Anfield. He was described as being 5' 8" in height, weighed 116lbs, 33” chest and had a brown complexion with brown hair and brown eyes. His religion is stated as Church of England. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He sailed to France on the 07th November 1915 with his Battalion on the SS Invicta, and for two weeks at the end of January 1916 he was attached to the Town Major at Corbie.

14 - 26.1.16 to 98th F.A and 30th D.R.S. suffering from diarrhoea. 

17.3.16 for two weeks he was attached to the Town Major at Corbie. 

.Alfred’s father died aged 65 in the March quarter of 1916. 

Alfred was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on 01^st July 1916, aged 19. 

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

Alfred now rests at grave IV C8 in Peronne Road Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

JESU MAY HE REST IN THEE.

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 05th August 1916.

"Private Alfred Hartley of the "Pals," youngest son of Mrs. J. Hartley and the late Mr. J. Hartley, of 9, Denton-grove, Liverpool, has been killed. He was 19 years of age and before joining the "Pals" during the early recruiting he was on the staff of Messrs. George H. Lee Ltd., Liverpool. He was a member of St. Margaret's, Anfield".   

He was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 07th August 1916: 

Killed. 

King’s (Liverpool Regt.) - Hartley, 16521, A. (Liverpool); 

He was commemorated on the war memorial that once stood in the Parish Church of St Margaret, Belmont Road, Anfield, Liverpool until the church was destroyed by fire in 1961.

Alfred's medal card shows that he earned his three medals.

His mother, died aged 62, shortly after her son in the December quarter of 1916.

Soldiers Effects to brother Richard, no Pension record found. 

Richard, living at 73 Pendennis Street, Anfield, received his personal belongings – 1 disc, 1 case containing photos, cards and books. 

We currently have no further information on Alfred Hartley, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.