Nat was born on 14th March 1888 in Miles Platting, Manchester. He was one of eight children born to James and Margaret Hartley. Tragically in May 1904, his mother died suddenly after a short illness, leaving the younger children to be cared for by their elder siblings. Aged just 15, Nat enlisted into the Lancashire Fusiliers for seven years and went off around the world to try to forget his deep sadness at home. 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. 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 with his pals into his old regiment. He sailed from England on 22nd August, never to return. On 26th August he was killed by German machine gun fire at the first Battle of Le Cateau, France.

Picture courtesy of William Hartley, great nephew.

"You will never be forgotten, Nat"

www.hartleyfamilyorg.uk