Private William Herbert Vaughan Hartley
Accident in WW1
Date of Death:
Service Biography
William Hartley, a 37 year old Private with the 14th Battalion, became one of the first Canadians to die in the war. Hartley had emigrated from England in 1913 and was working at the Montreal Cottons in Valleyfield. He was found dead of exposure, lying in a ditch, as he returned from leave on the evening of October 19, 1914. He left behind his wife, Ellen, and 4 children in Valleyfield.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
25844
Cause of Death (in war):
Accident
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Infantry
Battalion:
14th Battalion
Company:
C Company
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Blackburn, Lancashire
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
37 years 7 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
37 years 8 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
37 years 8 months
Country Born:
England
Trade or Calling:
Packer
Next of Kin:
Ellen Hartley, wife.
Valleyfield, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Valleyfield, Quebec
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Valcartier, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 9.0 in / 175 cm
Weight:
Chest:
37.0 in / 94 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 cm
Marital Status:
Married
Prior Military Experience:
Yes
Saw Service in:
Great Britain
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
28 days in service
Buried at:
Plot:
In West corner. 132 ft wesof churcht
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Infantry |
Army |
14th Battalion |
C Company |
|
|
Notes
Son of Joseph Hartley and Ann Hartley of Blackburn, Lancashire, England; husband of Ellen Hartley of 1375, Bordeaux St., Montreal, P.Q.
From the Huntingdon Gleaner October 22, 1914 "On Sunday morning, on the road between Salisbury and the plain where the Canadian contingent is encamped, the body of a soldier was found. It was lying face downward, the mouth close to the grass. The body was that of Private Wm. H. V. Hartley, C Company, 34 years old, of the First Royal Montreal Regiment. He had got leave on Saturday and went to town where he spent the evening. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The burial took place on Tuesday in the village church-yard at Shrewton, with full military honors. He was an Englishman and came to Canada 2 years ago. After a few months stay in Toronto, settled in Valleyfield. He obtained employment in Valleyfield with the Montreal Cottons. Since his enlistment, Mrs Hartley has been without support and has received aid from the municipality and from individuals. Her five children are all under seven years of age, and apart from her husband's sister she has no relatives in Canada"
Listed as "Died of Exposure"
He is also listed in the De Ruvigny Roll of Honour.
Research Notes
Likely buried in West Corner of Maddington (St. Mary) Churchyard Extension, Wiltshire, Uninted Kingdomfound deadof wxposueon Salisbury Plain
igrated to Canada 2.5 years prior to enlistment
nteresting service file. Many things not normally seen
