Captain Edward George BARTLETT OBE MC and Bar
6th (Service) Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Date of birth: 7th December 1893
Date of death: 4th June 1970

Died aged 76
Buried at St Cosmas and St Damien Church, Sherrington
Edward George Bartlett was born at 16 Pembridge Crescent, Kensington in London on the 7th of December 1893 the son of Edward Henry Hewitt Bartlett, a solicitor, and Margaret (nee Scott) Bartlett of 35 Alexander Court, Queen's Gate, London and later of 90 Victoria Road, Littleham, Exmouth in Devon.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1907 where he was a member of the Choir. He was a member of the Cricket IX in 1905, 1906 and 1907, when he was Captain. He a was member of the Football XI in 1905 and 1906 when he was Captain. The school magazine wrote the following on his 1905 cricket season: - "A deserving little sportsman, a capital field and improving bat."

Of his 1906 cricket season they wrote: - "A fussy and nervous looking little batsman, but in reality his nerves are his best point and have procured him many a good innings. No one at the beginning of the year would have believed it possible for him to turn out so good as a wicket keeper, and without him Carr would have been costly indeed."

Of his 1907 cricket season they wrote: - "Very keen as captain, though a trifle too exacting - his batting has improved, but failed to reach expectations - a capital wicket keeper, who should, with increased strength, make a name for himself."

They wrote the following on his 1905 football season: - "(Left half) - Very hard working and plucky; must learn "to use his head" in every sense; ought to be of great service to us next season."

They wrote of his 1906 football season: - "Captain (Centre half) - Not a great success owing to his weakness in tackling, and proneness to overdo dribbling and forget his defensive duties; a fine shot when in position - would probably been better suited at "back"."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "....passes on to Wellington where he is placed in Upper Middle I in the Classical School. As a sportsman he ought to make his mark, provided he is careful not to overtax his strength."

He went on to Wellington College where he was in Brougham’s and Upcott’s from September 1907 to July 1913. He was a member of the 2nd Cricket XI in 1911 and of the 1st Cricket XI in 1912 and 1913. He represented the school at Racquets from 1911 to 1913 and won the Public School Racquets Cup in 1913. He went on to Trinity College Cambridge in October 1913 where he was runner up in the Cambridge University Racquets Challenge Cup in 1914.

Following the outbreak of war he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on the 2nd of September 1914 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1917. He was promoted to Acting Captain and, on the 27th of July 1917, he was appointed as Adjutant to his battalion.

On the 24th of August 1917 6th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was at Inverness Copse in the Ypres sector when they were subjected to a heavy bombardment followed by a massed infantry attack by the Germans but this was dispersed with reinforcements coming from the headquarters company. At 12.30pm the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Atchison, was killed and at 1.30pm another mass attack was repulsed. The Germans commenced another heavy barrage and attacked with flame throwers and trench mortars but the battalion stood its ground. Edward Bartlett was wounded in this attack which was reported in the Times of the 5th of September 1917.

He was awarded the Military Cross in the King’s Birthday Honours List of the 4th of June 1917 and was mentioned in despatches twice, one of which was in the London Gazette of the 15th of June 1916.

He was promoted to Staff Captain in 1918 and won a bar to his Military Cross, the citation of which reads:-Lieutenant (Temp Captain) Edward George Bartlett KOYLI Staff Captain, 43rd Infantry Brigade.

“During operations near Ypres on September 28th 1918, he worked untiringly and supervised the arrangement for supplies and ammunition to the battalion headquarters of the two battalions that had attacked very shortly after the objectives of the Brigade had been taken. By his excellent organisation, the companies in the line were able to be supplied by pack animal with ammunition shortly after the objectives were taken. Later on he again supervised the delivery of rations and water, and saw to their safe delivery work to battalions. His work throughout was of the utmost value to the Brigade.”

He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the King's Birthday Honours List of the 1st of January 1919 and was posted to India later the same year.

After the war he reached the semi finals of the Amateur Rackets (Doubles) Championship in 1921. and in 1922 he became engaged to Miss Marjorie Bell. He was married at Jhansi in Bengal to Marjorie Agnes Staveley (nee Bell) on the 21st of October 1922. They had a son and lived later at The Old Rectory at Sherrington in Wiltshire and at 8 Southampton Street, Bloomsbury Square London W.

He was seconded to the South Wales Borderers and was transferred to them with the rank of Lieutenant on the 2nd of December 1922. He was promoted to Captain and transferred to the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on the 2nd of December 1925. He retired from the army with the rank of Major on the 24th of December 1938. On leaving the army he went to work for the private bank, Glyn Mills & Co.

He rejoined the army on the outbreak of the Second World War when he was with Southern Command as Passive Air Defence Officer, before serving as a Lieutenant Colonel as an Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General from 1941 to 1946. He was a member of the Army and Navy Club and of the MCC and played cricket for the Free Foresters.

He died in Wiltshire. He was buried at St Cosmas and St Damien Church, Sherrington where a service was held in his memory at 3pm on the 25th of June 1970.
Went on to Wellington College

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