Cpl
Wallace Hodgson Hartley
Military Details
Service Number: 3601948,
Regiment & Unit / Ship
2nd Bttn Border Regiment
Service Branch
Army
Enlistment Details
Date of Enlistment
1941
Residence at Enlistment
Oulton , Wigton
Rank at Enlistment
Pte
Battalion at Enlistment
2nd Bttn
Service Number at Enlistment
3601948,
Service History
Cpl. Hartley, aged 25, joined the army in January 1940, and had served 2½ years in Burma.
Battalion War Diary Extract
On 12 February 1945 the 20th Division crossed the Irawaddy downstream and to the west of Mandalay. They had been joined by the 2nd Division. On the following day - 13 February - the 7th Division also crossed the Irawaddy, south of Pakokku, forming a bridgehead. Having been joined by motorised brigades from the 17th Division, on 21 February the breakout began from the bridgehead and by 28 February they had reached Meiktila, the principal administrative centre of the Japanese main front and where the Japanese had several forward airfields.
Hence, by the beginning of March 1945 the Japanese forces began to withdraw with the Allied troops swiftly following to keep up the advantage that had been gained up to this time. According to the Regimental records 2nd Border was in the rear and out towards one flank. The Japanese had protected their withdrawal by laying landmines and it was this that unfortunately led to Corporal Hartley losing his life.
Transfer Details
Regiment Transferred To
Border Regiment
Personal Details
Date of Birth
14th November 1919
Place of Birth
Ivy Cottage , Cleator
Residence (Roll of Honour)
Oulton Wigton
Parents
William and Mary Ellen
Married
Margaret
Education and Occupation
School
Cleator Council School
Occupation
Labourer , Cumberland CC
Work Address
Oulton Wigton
Death and Memorial
Date of Death
1st March 1945
Age at Death
25
Circumstances of Death
Padre Bennett, of Aspatria, states in a letter to Mrs Hartley that her husband was travelling in a jeep to Mandalay when it was blown up by a land mine. Padre Bennett officiated at the burial, which took place on the banks of the Irawaddy.
Place of Death
Myanmar
Theater of Action
Far East
Battle
Regiment at Death
Border Regiment
Battalion/Vessel at Death
2nd
Rank at Death
Pte.
Buried or Commemorated at
Taukkyan War Cemetery
Myanmar
Grave Position: 19. J. 15.
Private Memorial: Cleator War memorial
Cleator Moor Roll of Honour
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