Nat was born on 14th March 1888 in Miles Platting, Manchester. He was one of eight children born to James and Margaret Hartley. At the age of 13, in 1901, he was living at 31 Top-oth-Green, Chadderton, Oldham and was employed in a local Cotton Mill as a Warehouse Boy. Tragically in May 1904, his mother died suddenly after a short illness, leaving the younger children to be cared for by their elder siblings. Even though he was underage, Nat nevertheless enlisted into the Lancashire Fusiliers for seven years and went off around the world to try to forget his deep sadness at home: Malta - India - Egypt. When Nat returned in 1911 he went first to his sister Ada's home in Oldham. He arrived with nothing but the clothes he stood up in. After a few months he travelled down to Coventry to be with his father James and brother John William in Coventry. He worked for a time at Coventry Colliery as a Bricklayers Labourer, but his time with his family in Coventry was short-lived. In the summer of 1914, WWI loomed and Nat immediately went back to Bury, Lancashire to re-enlist into his old regiment 22nd August 1914: Sailed from Southampton on board SS Saturnia 23rd August 1914: arrived at Boulogne, on at 11.00am marching towards Lille 24th August 1914: on towards Cambrai, to Bertry, then Ligny. 25th Aug 1914: early am they marched to Quievy NNE of Caudry and entrenched. Tropical rain fell towards evening and the sky was illuminated by burning Mons. A few German shells landed near their trenches. No one was hit. Nat took part in The First Battle of Le Cateau and died the next day, at approximately noon, on Wednesday 26th August 1914 '...it is said by some that through the course of the entire war never were British troops as heavily outnumbered' ... 55 000 British troops against 140 000 Germans. Researched by Nat's great grandson, William. full account: www.hartleyfamily.org.uk/NatH.htm Remembered with honour, at Esnes Communal Cemetery, France. Lest We Forget.

William Hartley