Private 18302 Alfred Hartill

Killed in Action on Wednesday, 9th August 1916, age 30.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 7 B of Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

2nd Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 6th Brigade of 2nd Division.
Formerly 18302, 7th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment.

Husband of Mary Ann Hartill, of 133 Horseley Heath, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Toll End, Enlisted: Birmingham, Resident: Great Bridge.

First landed Balkans, 11th September 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/790082/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Alfred Hartill registered December quarter 1885 in Dudley.

1891 Census
12 Court 3 House, New Road, Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.
William Hartill (39, Blacksmith, born Smethwick), his wife Mary A. (29, born Tipton), and their 5 children: Louisa (7, Scholar, born Tipton), Alfred (5, Scholar, born Tipton), William (3, born Tipton), Joseph (1, born Tipton) and May (4 months, born Tipton).

Alfred Hartill cannot be positively identified on the 1901 and 1911 census records.

8th January 1911 at St. Martin’s Church, Lower Church Lane, Tipton.
Marriage of Alfred Hartill (aged 25, of 3 Ballfields, Tipton, father William Hartill - Puddler) and Mary Ann Coley (aged 20, of 2 Ballfields, Tipton, father George Coley - Collier – deceased). Witnesses: William Smith + Ada Coley.

Alfred and Mary Ann had 3 children: May (born 4th December 1911 - died 1918), Doris (born 4th August 1913) and Nancy (born 4th September 1915).

In September 1914, on Alfred's enlistment, his address was 133 Horseley Heath, Tipton. This was still the family address in 1917 when Mary Ann, his widow, began to receive her widow's pension.

Personal Data

Alfred enlisted as Private R/3651 with the King's Royal Rifle Corps at West Bromwich on 5th September 1914. Alfred gave his age as 29 years and 330 days, however from his birth registration (December quarter 1885) it would seem he was actually 28 years and 330 days old. He was not a tall man, being measured at 5 feet 2¾ inches tall, and weighed just 7 stone 10 pounds with a 35-inch chest measurement. He had a sallow complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoo marks on both forearms. Despite his small stature, his physical development was described as good.

On 15th October 1914, after just 49 days of training, Alfred was discharged from the 12th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps "in consequence of his not being likely to become and efficient soldier." He had been stationed at Cowshott Camp, Bisley, Surrey; his character on discharge was stated as "good".

Alfred was not content to accept his discharge as the end of his contribution to the war effort, and in approximately April 1915 he enlisted with the South Staffordshire regiment. He was productive in the intervening period as a third child, Nancy, was born in September 1915. Initially Alfred was allocated to the 7th Battalion and landed in Gallipoli on 11th September 1915. This was with a reinforcement draft, as the 7th South Staffs had landed in Gallipoli in July 1915, and 11 officers and 185 Other Ranks of the 7th South Staffs had already been killed at Gallipoli before Alfred's arrival.

At some stage Alfred was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, South Staffs. Often transfers of this type would happen on recovery from wounds or sickness, especially if this had necessitated medical treatment back in England.

After Alfred's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £0/10/10d (10 shillings and 10 pence); this was paid to his widow, Mary Ann, in September 1917. His War Gratuity was £5/10/0d (5 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to Mary Ann in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Alfred had enlisted in approximately April 1915.

Alfred's widow, Mary Ann, was awarded a Widow's Pension of £1/6/3d (1 pound, 6 shillings and 3 pence) per week for herself and her 3 child, this was effective from 16th April 1917. At that time she was living at 133 Horseley Heath, Tipton.

Mary Ann's widow's pension would have ceased when she married William James Tilley in 1919. She would have received a lump-sum as compensation (approximately a year's pension) but the pension in respect of Alfred's 2 surviving children would continue until their 16th birthdays. Mary Ann had 3 children with William Tilley; the youngest, Thomas James, was killed on 17th July 1944 near Évrecy, Normandy (9 miles south-west of Caen) serving with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Action resulting in his death

From 'When the Whistle Blows' by Andrew Riddoch and John Kemp:
"The 2nd South Staffs had left Delville Wood in early August, but as part of 2nd Division were ordered to deal with the German defences between Waterlot Farm and Guillemont on 8th August 1916. The 2nd South Staffs were in reserve in Trones Wood and Bernafay Wood, but with 'A' Company at the disposal of 1st Kings and 'B' Company at the disposal of 17th Middlesex. Major Buckley (later the famous Wolves manager) had been second in command of 17th Middlesex but had been wounded and replaced by Major William (Harry) Carter. The Commanding Officer, Colonel Fenwick, stayed out of the attack with the cadre reserve, Major Carter was to lead the 17th Middlesex. The attack of the 8th August was largely unsuccessful with 51 men of the 17th Middlesex and 3 from the 2nd South Staffs losing their lives.

'C' & 'D' Companies of the 2nd South Staffs were placed at the disposal of Major Carter (17th Middlesex), and these were to be involved in a fresh attack on Machine Gun House at 2.30am on 9th August. A bombing party under Captain Fluke of the 2nd South Staffs got into the German front line, bombed up the front line with some success but were forced to pull back. A second attempt at 4.30am was also unsuccessful. Major Carter was awarded the first of his 2 DSOs for the actions at Guillemont on 8th/9th August."

5 men of the 2nd South Staffs were killed on 9th August, including Alfred Hartill, most likely as part of Captain Fluke's bombing raid. Alfred has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Guillemont was attacked again, unsuccessfully, on 18th August and finally fell on 3rd September.

Major William (Harry) Carter, later Commanding Officer of the 7th South Staffs, was one of Wolverhampton's Great War heroes. He rose from the rank of Sergeant at the outbreak of war to Lieut. Colonel at the Armistice; his amazing journey can be followed at: https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/lieutenant-colonel-william-henry-carter-dso-and-bar-mc-and-bar/ (link correct at April 2023).

Newspaper Cuttings

None.