Thomas Hartle (1879–1916)

Corporal

Royal Garrison Artillery 9147 "L" 104th Heavy Battery

Photo courtesy Rosemary Hall

Photo of Thomas Hartle

Biography
Thomas was born in about 1880 in Crich. He worked as a quarryman in Teeside before joining the army around 1901. In 1911 he was a Bombardier at Farnham Barracks and served in India. He entered the Asian theatre of conflict in January 1915, and like his brother William was a member of the Military Mounted Police. He died of beri beri on 19 March 1916 when he was thirty-seven years old. He was buried at Kut War Cemetery, which is in modern day Iraq. He is also is remembered on the war memorial at Crich and on the memorial tablet in Crich Wesleyan Chapel

Medal Roll Index Cards
He was awarded the British War, Victory and 15-Star Medals.
Entered Asiatic 16/01/15
Died 19/03/16

Newspaper reports

Derbyshire Times 8 April 1916
DEATH OF A CRICH MAN
The sad news was received on Saturday morning last by Mr and Mrs Elias Hartle of the Tors Crich, that their son, Thomas Hartle, of the Military Mounted Police R.G.A. who, as previously stated in these columns, has been lying seriously ill in hospital in Mesopotamia, has died. He was amongst the first to join the Expeditionary Force, and was beleagued at Kut-el-Amara under General Townsend. He had been 15 years in the Army, ten of which he spent in India. He was the eldest son on Mr and Mrs Hartle, was 36 years of age and single, and of his two brothers, William has been in the trenches for some considerable time and Charles is training in England.

Derbyshire Courier , 8 April 1916
CRICH N.C.O.'S DEATH
Mr and Mrs E.W.Hartle of Laburnum Cottage, Crich, received news on Saturday that their son Cpl Thomas Hartle, had passed away in hospital on 19 March at the Persian Gulf. The intimation was forwarded from the Dover Record Office. As stated in last weeks "Courier" Cpl Hartle was in hospital suffering from beri beri and his condition was reported as dangerous. He enlisted fifteen years ago and of this period he has spent about ten years in India. About six years ago he was at home on furlough and after a short stay in the south of England he again was sent to India and was stationed there at the outbreak of war. With his brigade, which formed part of the Indian Expeditionary Force, he was dispatched to Mesopotamia and he took part in a lot of the fighting there. Cpl Hartle, who was 36 years of age and single, was held in high esteem in Crich. His two remaining brothers are in the army. Prior to joining the Army Cpl Hartle was a mason and quarryman, and for a considerable time he worked on the Langsett waterworks along with other Crich artisans.

Photos courtesy Roemary Hall

Charles Hartle in WW1

Photo of Thomas Hartle

Thomas Hartle with his regiment

Thomas is extreme right on the front row

His mother, Lavinia, had a double-sided locket showing her sons Charles and Thomas who were both killed in the war.

locket photo of Charles hartle

Charles

locket photo of Thomas Hartle

Thomas

 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Name HARTLE, THOMAS
Initials T
Nationality United Kingdom
Rank Corporal
Regiment/Service Royal Garrison Artillery
Unit "L" 104th Heavy Bty.
Ages 37
Date of Death 19/03/16
Service No 9147
Additional Information Son of Elias and Lavinia Hartle, of Laburnum Cottage, Crich, Matlock.
Casualty type Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference E.6
Cemetery KUT WAR CEMETERY
War Grave certigicate for Thomas Hartle in WW1
Memorial tablet in the Wesley Chapel Crich

Memorial inside the Wesleyan Chapel, Crich

Soldiers' Effects Book
Thomas Hartle; 104 Hvy Bty RGA; Cprl 9147; died in the Persian Gulf 19.3.16; War Gratuity £10; paid out to:
13.11.16 father Elias William £34 4s 8d
13.3.17 father Elias William 10s 1d
22.10.19 father Elias William £10 0s0d

Thomas Hartle's brothers Charles Hartle and Elias Hartle are also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1891: Hayes Lane, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Elias W Hartle Head 34 General Labourer Crich
Lavinia Hartle wife 36   Bonsal
Thomas Hartle son 11 Scholar Crich
Charles Hartle son 9   Crich
Mary E Hartle daughter 5   Crich
Elias W Hartle son 2   Crich

RG12 piece 2747 folio 8 page 10

1901: Startforth, Teeside

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Thomas Hartle boarder 21 Freestone quarryman Crich

RG13 piece 4657 folio 98 page 16

1911: Farnham Barracks

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Thomas Hartle Bombadier 32 (Slate quarryman) Crich

RG14PN5664 RD92 SD1 ED19 SN9999