James William Hartley (1897-1978)
Waldridge man served with Seaforth Highlanders of Canada awarded Military Medal
The oldest son of James and Emma Hartley, James William arrived in Canada in 1911 to join them in British Columbia. He was a member of the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, a local militia group. He then enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 13 September 1915 in Vancouver, becoming Private 129321 attached to “C” Company 72nd Battalion which embarked for Britain on 23 April 1916, after having trained over the winter in Hastings Park, Vancouver.
After four months in camp at Bramshott, Hampshire, the battalion embarked for France on 12 August, where it fought as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division. Within a month later, they found themselves facing the enemy on the front lines at Kemmel. By Christmas 1916 they were in the trenches at Vimy Ridge, but James had time away from the trenches when he attended a week-long grenade course. On 18 April 1917, Hartley was severely wounded in the right leg. Having had the bullet removed in France, he was invalided to hospital in Chester. This was followed by convalescence at Ramsgate where he remained until June. In September 1917, Private James Hartley was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Vimy Ridge in April 1917.
He returned to the 72nd in mid-September to join the battalion in the muddy desolation around Ypres, Belgium. He was once again wounded at the end of October near Crest Farm, this time in the left thigh, right buttock and chest. Sent to England, it took three months for the wound in his thigh to heal and he then underwent six weeks of intense remedial gymnastics and convalescence. James was not discharged from medical care until early April 1918. Returning to Canada, Private Hartley was demobilized in Vancouver on 20 June 1918.
James Hartley married in Vancouver in 1920. A decade later in 1930, he and his wife moved to California and became naturalised citizens of the United States. James died on 3 March 1978 at Rio Hondo Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles, California.
Civil Parish: Waldridge
Birth date: 15-Apr-1897
Death date: 3-Mar-1978
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Dales Houses, Waldridge (1901 census)
North Burnaby, British Columbia (enlistment papers)
Capitol Hill, Vancouver, British Columbia (service record, 1923)
Lynwood, Los Angeles, California (1940 US census)
Religion: Methodist
Employment: Clerk (enlistment papers)
Family: Parents: James Hartley, Emma Louise Hartley nee Hopkin
Siblings: Herbert Stanley Hartley, Elizabeth Hartley
Wife: Kathleen Hartley nee Driscoll
Children: James Daniel Hartley
Military service:
72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (pre-war militia)
Private 129321
72nd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Military Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham