A Visual Bouquet for Harold Stewart Bartley 1927-2014

Harold Stewart Bartley, great grandson of Edward Bartley, grandson of Frederick, son of George Bartley passed away last weekend. We celebrate his life here in images from the Bartley Archive.

WW1 NZ Armed Servicemen - Gilbert Slattery & George Bartley

The Bartley Archive holds a number of objects belonging to family members who served in the armed forces. These objects help us to more readily identify with the young men who served in the Great War.

Every person entering the armed services received identification tags so that in the event of death or injury they could be identified and the authorities advised. These tags, belonging to Gilbert Slattery are typical of the period.

Identification Tags belonging to Gilbert Slattery

Gil enlisted in August 1914 at the age of twenty. He was a gas fitter by trade, employed by Brodie's of Northcote where he lived. Before leaving New Zealand he was part D Company, 4th Reinforcements. From November 1914 to 22 March 1915 he was with the Samoan Detachment. Three weeks later he left New Zealand once more as part of the 3rd Auckland Regiment, later joining the Otago Infantry.

Gil remained overseas throughout the war years. He served at Gallipoli before being transferred to the Western Front in 1916, where he remained until the end of hostilities in 1918.
At the close of the war he was embarked for England. After a month recovering in military hospital there he was recruited into the NZPC, the Police Corps, with whom he continued to serve until embarking for home in January 1920.

Accoutrements box belonging to Gilbert Slattery. Soldiers commonly referred to these boxes by the traditional name of ditty box as they also contained their personal bits and pieces such a mending kit and memorabilia.

George Bartley at Enlistment 1918

George was a Pharmacy apprentice in 1917 when he enlisted, but he was required to remain in civvies until he passed his final examination to qualify as a pharmacist. He spent his 21st birthday with trainees for the Medical Corps at the NZ Army training base near the Awapuni Race Course.

 They embarked from Dunedin on the Hospital Ship Marama on the first of June 1918 on their journey to Europe. The ship collected patients at Durbin in South Africa from whom the new recruits heard their first uncensored reports of the military activities.

The Hospital Ship Marama

On arrival in Marsailles, France George was part of a draft detailed for the Western Front. By now, however, it was August 1918 and they were despatched instead to a hospital in Warminster. At the end of hostilities he was posted to "Sling Camp"- the base on the Salisbury plains from which NZ troops were processed for return home.

The First Aid Kit issued to George Bartley 1917

the intact contents of the first aid kit

Below are a selection of papers from the Attestation and Service Record of George Bartley. These documents are typical of those for servicemen  in this period.

War Correspondence 1914-1918

2014 brings with it a significant commemoration of the Great War. 

There are now thousands of images available depicting the theatre of war, but still very few which illustrate the means by which families and friends maintained relationships during the years of conflict. 

The postcards illustrated below were all sent to family members in New Zealand by fathers, brothers and uncles serving in Europe during the years 1914-1918. 

Censorship operated during this period, as well as the natural restraint of men making light of their situation to shield their loved ones from care and anxiety, but it was the point of contact represented by these post cards which was so important to those at home.

Bertha Bartley - fifth child of Edward Bartley and Elizabeth Hannken (1869-1944)

Emily Bertha Bartley (Tottie)

Emily Bertha Bartley was born at home in Union St, Auckland on May 9, 1869.[i]

She was the fifth child of the family and the eldest surviving daughter. She was known to family and friends as Tottie.

When she was still a toddler the family moved to Devonport on the North Shore, where the Bartley children enjoyed a seaside environment away from the public health issues of Auckland itself.

Devonport was a fledgling rural community at that time, but still a commutable distance for her father’s work and social engagements.

Like her siblings, Tottie was a talented musician. She enjoyed performing, was a gifted soprano, and was often in demand as keyboard accompanist or for string ensembles with her violin or viola.

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[i] Daily Southern Cross 7 June 1869 page 10

Tottie photographed by her brother Fred, about 1890

In February 1884 SS Doric berthed in Auckland. Amongst the new immigrants on board were Philip Hawe MASON and his wife Martha ROBINSON. Coming from Swindon, Wiltshire in England, they brought all their surviving children with them. The Masons settled at Kerr St Devonport where their similarity of social circumstances, religious and political views laid the ground for a solid and lasting friendship with the Bartley family. Their ninth child was Frank Ernest Mason. He was three years older than Tottie Bartley and a best friend of her older brothers. Frank was especially close to Fred Bartley, sharing his interest in the new dance music and new technology of photography.

Frank Mason about the time he arrived in Auckland, aged 17, in 1884

NZ Herald 2 March 1891

Frank trained as an accountant. From the beginning of his adult life and continuing into old age, he was active in church, school and district affairs. Both he and Tottie were so community focused there was hardly an organisation, interest group or charity in Devonport deprived of their energy. In this they were following the example of their respective parents, who were of a generation to whom community service was grounding principle of daily life.

Devonport School Committee Meeting Auckland Star 28 April 1891

Tottie and Frank had five children, all born at Devonport. They were Bertha Eileen 1892; 
Dorothy Hazel 1894; Marjorie Estelle 1897;  Norah Kathleen 1903 and Philip Hawe 1909.

Tottie died 27 May 1944 and was interred in the Mason family plot at O'Neills Point Cemetery, North Shore, Auckland.

Hazel photographed by her cousin George Bartley about 1913

Hazel in costume as an Egyptian Princess, from the album of George F Bartley

Marjorie Mason photographed by her cousin George Bartley about 1913

Marjorie Mason, from the album of George F Bartley

Nora Mason about 1913 from the album of George F Bartley

Frank's sister Ada married Bill Barrach in 1890

Frank's sister Ellen married Samuel Craig in 1889

the Mason plot O'Neills Cemetery North Shore Auckland New Zealand

Alfred Martin Bartley 1866-1929

Alfred Bartley, Steven Album, Bartley Archive

Alfred was the third child of Edward BARTLEY and Elizabeth HANNKEN. He was born at Union St Auckland 24 January 1866[1] and his early schooling was at Devonport School. He and Frederick were close companions. Alf was an exceptional musician, with a particular strength in keyboard performance, although he also played string instruments with great facility.

He often appeared at the City Hall as accompanist to visiting musicians. His work with the child prodigy Celia DAMPIER was particularly admired.

Observer 25 July 1891 p 14

In the  1880s Fred, Alf and Bertha Bartley performed regularly as a musical trio. Sport, music and social activity characterised the flourishing Devonport community at this time, just as it does today. One such example is the vibrant culture of the tennis club.  The names mentioned in these newspaper extracts include Alfred's relatives: Queree, Philcox, Mouzer and Mason for example. 
Alf also served as secretary of this Club in the 1890's. 

Observer 30 April 1887

Observer 6 July 1895

Apart from his personal performances Alf was involved with numerous musical groups as accompanist, trainer or organiser - including the Waitemata Minstrels and the Savage Club. His father Edward was a founder of the Orpheus Club and Alf joined him in that group, first as a singer and later as choir master.

Cover page of the Photograph Album presented by the Waitemata Minstrels, Steven Family Collection 

Alf appears in the centre, in civvies. This photo is unidentified and undated. Any information identifying the subject band would be highly appreciated.

Auckland Star 14 July 1922 Jazz age music after the war

Alfred served with the local Borough Council after the war years. He was also a force behind the resurgence of croquet in Devonport in the 1920s:

 Alf was not so happy in his working life. His natural inclination was to a musical career, but the economic reality dictated otherwise. He trained as a draughtsman and worked with various firms in Auckland until the depression of the 1890s when he was out of work.[2] His father gave him what work he could, but both he and Alf were aware that there was insufficient new building to support another a full wage from the architectural practice.

The engagement between Alfred and Miss Essie GRATTAN was announced in July 1890, with those of his brother and sister.[3] Essie was the only daughter of Richard Grattan, and once diagnosed with Bright’s disease, shortly after her engagement, her health deteriorated rapidly. 
Fred and Alfred both had their career prospects  curtailed by depression, an experience shared by many of their generation.
The brothers went to Australia, planning to join the mineral boom in Queensland, but Alfred returned home to New Zealand within a few months. 
Neither of the brothers had found immediate employment overseas and Essie's illness now became obvious and critical. He returned to Devonport.

The Archive holds on file an undated letter from Alfred’s mother Elizabeth. She is writing to Fred in Australia, sharing family news. In it she remarks on Alfred’s situation:

 I think Alf has given up all ideas of getting married. Essie is still very poorly and 4 Doctors tell the same tale that she can't live long although she is usually bright. Sometimes she doesnt know she is bad and talks to Alf about getting married. It is something awful for both. The Doctor thinks if she knew she would give up altogether so they dare not tell her.

Essie died 10 April 1894.[4]

 

Auckland Star 11 April 1894

Once Fred died, in June 1899, in Australia there seems to have been a change. From this time onwards Alfred appeared to be groomed to take over his father’s practice, eventually being made a partner in Bartley & sons, Architects.

 Alfred, however, never shared his father’s passion for architecture and after Edward died Alf left the partnership to their young partner Keith Draffin.

At the New Plymouth in February 1906 Alfred married Marianne Houghton Warren. She was born in Wagga Wagga, Australia 17 Feb 1883. She attended school in Hawera before coming to Auckland to train in nursing at the Mater Hospital in Epsom. [5]

Employment took a new turn, as the twentieth century began. Alfred began a new career as a land agent with Cowpermore-Jones.  He also worked with Hancock and Co around the time of the lifting of Prohibition. Hotels, previously run as boarding houses were undergoing conversion back to licensed premises. He travelled widely supervising alterations to his plans.[6]

Alfred died in Pentlands Hospital, Devonport on 1 May 1926. He is interred at O’Neill’s Point Cemetery.[7]

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[1] Daily Southern Cross 28 February 1866 page 7

[2] Electoral Roll 1883 Eden. Resident Devonport Draughtsman. 1889 witness at wedding of cousin Ernest Queree, occupation draughtsman. Cert on file.

[3] Observer 26 July 1890

[4] NZRBDM 1894/2585

[5] Steven Family research

[6] Steven family research

[7] Probate 323/29. Burial May 1929 Cemetery Records O’Neill’s Point