Private Leonard Hartley
241534 2/5th East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 9th October 1917
Lived at 58 Cromwell Street
Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
St Peters Memorial, Burnley
Burnley Express 20th October 1917 - 20th October 1917

Leonard Hartley was born in Burnley the son of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth of 89 Brougham Street and later at 58 Cromwell Street, Burnley. He was married to Sarah Anne and lived at 45 Forest Street. He enlisted at Burnley as Private 241534 2nd/5th Bn., East Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action aged 27 on Tuesday 9th October 1917 and is Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial panel 77, 79 & 163A.

The Burnley Express of 20th October 1917 reported:-.
“Enlisted And Fell Together. Two Promising Burnley Young Men.

Two Burnley men who enlisted together are now reported to have fallen together. Lce-Srgt. Wild (23) No.241528 East Lancashire, and machine gunner Leonard Hartley (27) no.241354 of the same regiment enlisted in the spring of 1915, and went on active service on March 1st last. As boys they had been connected with St Peter’s School, and later they were both actively identified with the Burnley Rescue Lodge of Good Templars, Wellhouse Street. From information available it appears that the two were in a party who went over the top on Tuesday of last week, and that they received fatal wounds about the head.
Machine-Gunner Hartley, 58, Cromwell Street, was also a young man of excellent parts. He has two brothers in France and one on the sea. A brother-in-law, Pte. Rennie Graham, made the supreme sacrifice last April. Formerly Leonard Hartley was a weaver at Scar Top Mill. He, too, was a married man”.

The Burnley News reported:-
“Good Templars’ Official. Burnley Pals Killed In The Same Battle.

Pte. Edmund Hartley, 2/4th East Lancashire Regiment who arrived home from leave on Wednesday, brought the sad information to to his sister in law, who resides at 45 Forest Street, Burnley that her husband Pte. Leonard Hartley of the Machine Gun Section, 2/5th East Lancashire Regiment was killed in action on October 9th. They were in the same engagement, and Leonard being shot through the head was killed instantaneously. His “pal”, Sergeant Walter Wild, who resided in the Fulledge district was killed in the same battle. It is a tragic co-incidence that having enlisted together and served together these two friends should be killed practically at the same time. Pte. Hartley was 26 years of age. He joined up a few months after the war broke out, and had had over two years and six months active service. Previous to enlisting he was a weaver at Messrs. Scar Top Mill. Pte Hartley was a member of St Peter’s Church and was also a member of the National Order of Good Templars, occupying the position of secretary of the Burnley Rescue Lodge. He was very well-known and held in the highest respect. He leaves a widow but no family”.

The 2nd/5th Battalion War Diary reported:-

“9th October 1917. Passendaele. Minnezeele. East of Ypres. Near Vlamertinghe. Moved up the slopes of the Frezenberg Ridge and attacked at 5.20am with Blue Line as objective. Held Position and consolidated under heavy fire until relieved by 42Battalion Australian Infantry. Casualties Officers 2 killed and 10 wounded. Other Ranks 34 killed229 missing (17 believed killed) and 16 wounded.”

At least 15 Burnley men were killed in this attack including James Astin, William Edmondson, George Glover, Daniel Howarth, Albert Lister, John Marshall, George Parker, Randolph Prince, Andrew Rice, Charles Salmon, John Shears, Edwin Ware and Walter Wild.

Notes
Leonard Hartley was christened at St Peter’s Church on 11/5/1890. His father was a weaver.
Wedding on 26/9/16 at St Peter’s Church. Leonard Hartley, bachelor, weaver of 58, Cromwell Street, son of Joseph Hartley, weaver, married Sarah Anne Brown Waddington, spinster of 45 Forest Street, daughter of John Waddington, Blacksmith. Witnesses were Tom Hartley and Gertrude Minnie Wyld.

(Burnley Express 20/06/1982)

Burnley Rescue Temperance Lifeboat Crew

Walter Wild back row 2nd from left Leonard Hartley back row second from right.

We've scrutinised the sign and altered contrast etc and we think it says "Burnley Rescue Temperance Lifeboat Crew". The date may be at the top but I can't make it out. This morning, I had a little scoot around newspaper articles and it seems that they used to do a lot of free musical performances. I've attached an article which mentions one of these. Interestingly, the article names E. Pogson and M.A. Pogson (Edith and Mary Ann) who were very close friends with my Great Grandma and Walter. They also appear in the photo. Mary Ann Pogson is front row, second from the right and her little sister Edith is the little girl on the left of the man with the sign. Having read the article, I wonder if the man with the sign is J.C. Marshall but I can't corroborate that.

(Courtesy of Klare Tootell)