Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

His death registration in the Medway area of Kent states his age as 28

Deaths Jun 1917   Bartlett William E 28 Medway 2a 960
 

Private William Edward Bartlett was badly wounded in action in France on 11 May 1917. He was evacuated to England five days later with shrapnel wounds to left hand, legs and right foot. He was admitted to Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham, Kent, England. The hospital report stated, all wounds badly infected, osteomyelitis of tibia – left hand. Thumb blown away, lacerated & very dirty stump. Head fracture of frontal bone.” William never recovered and died of his wounds about 3 weeks later, on 11 June 1917. Two younger brothers 3801 Private James Bartlett 52nd Battalion was killed in action on 3 September 1916 at Mouquet Farm, Pozieres and Private Allan Walter Bartlett, 23/1547, 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, died 10 August 1916 of appendicitis. Buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, France.

Another brother 1872 Private John Albert Fitzgerald Bartlett served with the 38th Battalion AIF and returned to Australia for ‘family reasons’, by order of the Defence Department, during October 1917.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

William Edward Bartlett was born on 15th August, 1887 at Munro, Gippsland, Victoria to parents William Prescott Bartlett & Catherine (Kate) Bartlett (nee McCormick – according to Victorian BD&M, however family trees on Ancestry have the maiden name as Fitzgerald).

William Edward Bartlett & Emma Maud Semple had a child in 1912 - Hilda May Semple with father listed as unknown & the mother as Maude Semple.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 18th January, 1916 as a 27 year old, single, Grazier from Munro, Victoria. William Edward Bartlett stated on his Attestation Papers that he had served for 3 years with 13th Light Horse.

Private William Edward Bartlett, Service number 1873, embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Ajana (A31) on 8th July, 1916 with the 57th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 31st August, 1916. His brother Private John Albert Fitzgerald Bartlett, 1872, also embarked that day.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.

On 31st August, 1916 Private William Edward Bartlett was marched in to 15th Training Battalion – Camp 26 at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

He was admitted to Hospital on 10th September, 1916 & returned from Hospital to 15th Training Battalion on 21st September, 1916.

Private William Edward Bartlett proceeded overseas from 15th Training Battalion on 6th December, 1916 on S.S. Princess Henrietta to Reinforcements of 59th Battalion. He was marched in to 5th A.D.B.D.  (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples on 7th December, 1916.

On 9th December, 1916 Private Bartlett was admitted to 20th General Hospital at Camiers with Scabies & discharged to Base Depot (5th A.D.B.D. Australian Divisional Base Depot) on 19th December, 1916. He was re-admitted to the same Hospital on 24th December, 1916 again with Scabies & discharged to Base Depot on 4th January, 1917.

He was transferred to 59th Battalion & taken on strength with 59th Battalion on 7th March, 1917.

Private William Edward Bartlett was wounded in action in France on 11th May, 1917. He was taken to 8th Australian Field Ambulance then transferred to 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing station on 12th May, 1917 with shrapnel wounds to left hand, legs & right foot. Private Bartlett was transferred to 28th Ambulance Train on 14th May, 1917 & admitted to 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, France on 15th May, 1917. He embarked on the Hospital Ship St. Andrew on 16th May, 1917 for England.

He was admitted to Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham, Kent, England on 17th May, 1917 with gunshot wounds to head, left hand & left leg. The Hospital report reads “All wounds badly infected. Osteomyelitis of Tibia – left hand. Thumb blown away, lacerated & very dirty stump. Head fracture of frontal bone.”

Mrs W. P. Bartlett, of Lucknow Post Office, mother of Private William Edward Bartlett, wrote to Base Records on 21st May, 1917 stating that she had just received a wire from her son that he was “In Hospital, England, progressing favourably.” She stated she had “no intimation from the Defence Department of his illness nor nature of same. If any had been sent I’ve not received it, will you kindly inform me if you have anything to tell on this matter.” Mrs Catherine Bartlett wrote to Base Records again on 30th May, 1917 enquiring into her son’s condition.

A reply had been sent by Base Records to Mrs W. P. Bartlett on 29th May, 1917 stating that no report had reached the office to date that her son was in hospital. Advice was sent to Mr Bartlett on 1st June, 1917 advising that his son had been wounded. Advice was again sent to Mr Bartlett on 12th June, 1917 advising that Private William Bartlett had been admitted on 17th May, 1917 to Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham, England suffering from gunshot wounds to legs and left hand.

Private William Edward Bartlett died at 7.15 am on 11th June, 1917, aged 29, at Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham, Kent, England from wounds received in action in France – Gunshot wounds to left hand, leg, foot, head & exhaustion.

He was buried in Fort Pitt Military Cemetery, Rochester, Kent, England – Chapel Section, Soldiers’ Corner, Plot number 1462 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/rochester---fort-pitt.html