Private A Gordon Bartlett, 10th Bn The King's Liverpool (Liverpool Scottish)

Arthur Gordon Bartlett was born in Montreal, Canada on 13 April 1894 to father Edmund Thomas Bartlett and mother Ethel (formerly Birt).

His mother Ethel Birt, was the daughter of a prominent Liverpool Philanthropist, Lousa C Birt, the founder, secretary and superintendent of the Liverpool Sheltering Home for Orphan, Fatherless and Destitute Children, Myrtle St (also known as Liverpool Sheltering Homes) infamous for sending children to Canada.

In the 1891 census Gordon's mother was in Liverpool with her mother and sister. In 1892 she emigrated to Canada, perhaps to help with the work of the Sheltering Home. In 1894 she married Edmund Thomas Bartlett, a Canadian, in Montreal and their son was born that year.

The 1901 Canadian census shows Ethel with three children, Arthur G, Ethel L and Jean, all boarders in Knowlton Village, Brome, Quebec. The census records that all three children were born in Canada, Ethel was married but her husband wasn’t with them for the census.

The 1911 census shows that the family had moved to England, parents Ethel and Edmund (an investment broker) were living in a large house in Blundellsands with their two daughters and (Arthur) Gordon Bartlett was a resident as a boarder at the Bedford Boys Grammar School in Bedford, aged 16.

Arthur Gordon Bartlett volunteered on 5th August 1914, he gave his name as Gordon Bartlett, his age 20 years and 4 months and his occupation as merchant's apprentice in the employ of Balfour Williamson & Co (a Liverpool shipping company) with a 'nearly complete' apprenticeship. He stated that he was a British subject born in Canada, currently living on Sugnall St, Liverpool.

He was unmarried and had no previous service but had been a member of the Cadet Unit at Bedford Grammar School.

The medical form records that he was 6 feet tall with a chest measurement range of 38.5-41 inches; his vision was good and his physical development was good.

Gordon Bartlett was declared fit for service and appointed to the 10th Battalion, The King's Liverpool Regiment with the rank of private and the regimental number 3010.

Although his attestation and all military forms give his name as Gordon Bartlett, his agreement to serve overseas bears the signature "A Gordon Bartlett"

His service records show that Private Bartlett embarked for France on the 1st November 1914. He was appointed Acting Corporal on 18th Jan 1915 then promoted to full Corporal on 21st March 1915.

Corporal A Gordon Bartlett was killed in action on 16th June 1915.

The Battalion War Diary for this period records:

On the evening of the 14th June Major A. S. Anderson proceeded to RAILWAY WOOD (which is situated West of BELLEWARD farm and North of Hooge) from which point the 9th Brigade were to attack on the morning of the 16th. He took with him 2 men per company to act as markers & also 2 cyclists.

At 4pm on the afternoon of the 15th the Battn left the camping ground near BUSSEBOOM & proceeded via YPRES to RAILWAY WOOD.

The attack was made on a frontage of about 1000 yards, the Northumberland, Royal Scots & Royal Fusiliers were detailed to take the first line and we in conjunction with the Lincolns were to take the 2nd line, the 7th Brigade being in reserve.

We were shelled rather heavily between 12.30-2.10 am on the morning of the 16th and during this time several of our men were killed or wounded.

Our artillery bombardment started at 2/10 am & carried out the work of demolition so successfully that little difficulty was experienced in taking the first and second line trenches.

Unfortunately however, in continuing the advance we suffered many casualties as owing to the difficulty experienced in observing signals it was impossible to keep our shells ahead of the advancing infantry.

Although the 3rd line German trenches were reached it was impossible to hold on to them and so the whole Brigade consolidated the 1st and part of the 2nd line German trenches, manning them until 11/20 pm on the night of the 16th at which time they were relieved by the 8th Brigade.

The casualties amongst our officers were particularly heavy and of the 24 officers who went up only Lieut Wall, 2nd Lieut J G Roddick and Lieut Chavasse came back unscathed.

The work of all ranks throughout the day calls forth the highest praise, our bombing parties doing particularly good work.

The stretcher bearers throughout a most trying day did excellent work and showed great courage in attending so many wounded under very heavy shell fire.

His file contains correspondence from his mother after his death, a letter written on 1st Feb 1920 to the Officer in Charge of Records:

"Sir, some months ago now I received a printed form to be filled out with reference to a memorial plaque in memory of my only son, the late Corporal A Gordon Bartlett, 3010, A Coy, 10th Battn Liverpool Scottish Regt.

I filled up the form and had it duly signed by a clergyman + I returned it to you. Since that time I have not heard anything futher re the memorial plaque. On enquiring however I find that a lady friend of mine at Birkendead has had the memorial plaque for her son (Pte Thos Sloan of B Coy, Liveporol Scots) and she never had a form to fill in but received hers before Christmas 1919.

I should be glad to hear from you re this matter at your earliest convenience, it looks as if my [unclear] have been over looked in sending out the memorial cards (or plaques)

I am sir, faithfully yours. Ethel Bartlett."

The form she mentions was completed on 20th Oct 1919, showing that the family consisted of mother, father and two sisters named as E.R. Bartlett (living at Sugnall St with her parents) and J MCP Bartlett (University Hall, Holly Rd, Liverpool).

Presumably the family would eventually have received their plaque as well as the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star to which Cpl Bartlett was entitled.

Corporal A.G. Bartlett has no known grave and his name is engraved on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. Click here to see his entry on the CWGC website.

His family commemorated his life with an inscription on the family plot in Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool, where his Grandmother was buried in 1915 and his mother in 1945.