L.Sgt. M. Hartley

FIRST NAMES: Maynard

UNIT: 4th Yorkshire Regiment

NUMBER: 200997

STATUS: Killed in Action

DATE OF DEATH: 21st April 1917

CEMETERY OR MEMORIAL: Hibers Trench Cemetery, Wancourt, France

AGE: Unknown

Maynard Hartley was born in Glaisdale on 5th April 1896 as Maynard Weatherill (his mother's maiden name). His mother, Maggie, married John W. Hartley, two years later on 31st May 1898. John was a railway labourer and in 1901 the family, including Maynard's younger brother, John W, were living in Rymer's Yard, Northallerton.

By 1911, Maynard had left home and was working as a servant to a farmer called Robert Richardson at Wood End Farm, Landmoth-cum-Catto, near Kirby Sigston, Northallerton.

Lance Sergeant Hartley enlisted in Northallerton.

His official rank is given as Lance Sergeant, though he appears as a Sergeant on the Northallerton Memorial.

On 21st April 1917 the 4th Yorkshires were occupying the support line in Niger Trench, a former German front-line trench which had defended the village of Wancourt to the East. The trench had been virtually destroyed during its original capture and it provided its new occupants with very little cover.

Consequently when the Germans began shelling the trench from 6.00 to 8.00pm. the battalion suffered heavy casualties. Virtually all the Sergeants in W Company became casualties, including Lance Sergeant Hartley.