Martin Hartley
Attended Queen Elizabeth School from 1934 to 1939 and was a keen member of the cricket and football teams. Before joining the RAF he was employed as a finance clerk at Sutton Council Offices.
RAF: bomb aimer/gunner
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Martin was the second son of Joseph Percy Hartley and his wife Hannah Elizabeth Allen (née Quibell).
His father was born in Saltmarsh [Saltmarshe], Yorkshire, in 1891 and his mother was born in Pleasley, Derbyshire, in 1891.
Joseph joined the Grenadier Guards in 1912 and was discharged in March 1919 (see 'Extra information'). He married Hannah in 1919 (reg. O/N/D Mansfield) and they had two sons, Colin William b. 1921 and Martin b. 1922 (reg. J/A/S).
In 1921, Joseph, a dairyman, his wife and one-month old son, Colin, were living at 125 Mansfield Road, Sutton in Ashfield. Martin was born the following year. His brother, Colin, has not been positively traced after 1921 but probably survived his parents.
Joseph and Hannah were recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register living at The Dairy, Priestic Road, Sutton in Ashfield. The record of one other person in the household remains closed. Joseph was a special constable in addition to his occupation as a dairyman and had previously been an ARP Warden.
Joseph and Hannah later lived at 'Chevron', High Pavement, Sutton in Ashfield. Joseph died at home on 18 November 1967 and his widow, of the same address, on 27 August 1980.
Martin served with 50 Squadron (Bomber Command), flying Lancaster Bomber DVV376 from Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire.
Old Elizabethan's Service Record: 'SgtMartin Hartley was missing from operations over Berlin on the night of 15/16th February 1944. It was later learnt that the aircraft was brought down near Ludorf. On 18th July 1944 his body was recovered from the beach at Muritz and he was buried in the Russian Cemetery at Retzow Germany. Sgt Hartley was a Bomb Aimer and Air Gunner and had a very large number of flights to his credit in 1943-1944. Among the operations listed are Essen, Mannheim Nurmberg, Leverkusen, Berlin, Hanover, Bochum, Munich, Kassel, Stuttgart, Modane, Dusseldorf and Magdeburg.'
His death was presumed to have occurred on 16 February and he is buried in Retzow Cemetery, Germany. Retzow is a small village about 160km north-west of Berlin. There are nine WW2 Commonwealth burials, only three of which are identified. Note: After the war, and before reunification, Retzow was part of East Germany.
Joseph Percy Hartley joined the Grenadier Guards (16079) on 8 October 1912 on a 12 year Short Service Engagement (3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserve). He was aged 20 years 3 months, born in Saltmarsh (GG record gives county as Lincolnshire, but this is given as Yorkshire on the 1921 Census), occupation engine driver stationary/coal miner. His next of kin were his parents, Joseph and Agnes, and brothers William and James, all of 14 Carsic Lane, Sutton in Ashfield. His first postings were Caterham 13 October 1912, Aldershot 5 March 1913 and London 8 October 1913. He was appointed Signaller. Service: Home 8 October 1912-7 November 1914 (2y 31d), BEF France 8 November 1914-14 March 1915 (115d), Home 15 March 1915-23 September 1916 (1y 177d), BEF 24 September 1916 [no details beyond 24 September]. His service and pension records notes that he suffered a gunshot wound to the right hand (and possibly also to his face) on 10 March 1915, which explains his return to the UK from France on 15 March. Joseph then returned to France in September 1916. Both his service and pension records date his discharge to 29 March 1919 although there were medical examinations in 1920 and 1921 relating to his disabilities following the gunshot wound to his hand. Joseph qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC Additional information: 'Son of Joseph Percy and Hannah Elizabeth Allen Hartley, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.'
CWGC headstone personal inscription: ' Rest in peace you are always remembered and in our thoughts'
Probate: Hartley Martin of The Dairy Priestic Road Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire died 16 February 1944 on war service. Probate Nottingham 31 May to Joseph Percy Hartley dairyman. Effects £285 6s. 8d.
Nottingham Evening Post, 20 November 1967: ‘Two men die at Sutton. The deaths of two elderly men at Sutton-in-Ashfield on Saturday have been reported to the Nottingham District Coroner. A retired dairyman, Mr Joseph Percy Hartley (76), collapsed outside his home in High Pavement. He was taken inside but died soon afterwards.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
WMR 20294 (Obelisk) Memorial to 50 and 61 Squadrons at Action Nation Birchwood, Birchwood, North Kesteven, Lincolnshire. Dedicated June 1989. Inscription Face 1 ‘To the memory of the air crews and ground staff who gave their lives whilst serving with No. 50 Squadron and No 61 Squadron 5 Group Bomber Command The Royal Air Force 2nd World War 1939 to 1945' Face 2 No. 50 Squadron ‘From Defence to Attack;, operated from Royal Air Force Waddington, Lindholme, Swinderby, Skellingthorpe' (www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20294)
Photo of Martin Hartley
Buried in Retzow Cemetery, Germany (www.cwgc.org)