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

2nd Lt Thomas William Bartle, No. 69 Squadron, A.F.C.

Died on this date – 16th June…….. Thomas William Bartle (junior) was born at Castlemaine, Victoria on 2nd October, 1894 to parents Thomas William Bartle & Susan Ann Elizabeth Bartle (nee Wilkinson). Thomas William Bartle (senior) had died on 23rd February, 1894.

Lieutenant W. Fitzgerald, of 55th (Collingwood) Infantry , wrote the following letter to S. S. M. Rogers on 11th March, 1916: “With reference to our telephonic communication on Saturday last (11th inst), I have to inform you that Sergt. Bartle who bears this note was attached to this Regiment in 1914. He left Australia for Fiji and was then transferred to Exempt Areas Queensland. He has now returned and intends enlisting for Active Service. A certificate stating that Arms and Equipment on issue to him have been returned has not been procured by him from the Exempt Area Queensland and in lieu of this it was suggested that a Statutory Declaration to that effect be accepted. This action Sergt Bartle has promised to take. It might be also mentioned that Sergt Bartle passed the Regimental Examination for promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, but on account of his hurried departure the matter of his commission was not finally settled.”

Thomas William Bartle enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 14th March, 1916 as a 21 year old, single, High School Master (listed as School teacher in Fiji Islands by his mother in information provided for the Roll of Honour) from Castlemaine, Victoria. He stated on his Attestation Papers that he had previously served with Citizen Forces & had left colony 2 years ago for Fiji. He had served with 66 & 55 Infantry for 4 years.

Lieutenant Colonel Woods, Commanding 37th Battalion, A.I.F. wrote to Lieutenant Dalton, A. & I. Staff, Sturt Street, South Melbourne, on 16th March, 1916 with the following: “Bearer Mr T. W. Bartle is enlisting in A.I.F. and I desire his services in my Battalion, I would be pleased if you will have him sent to Seymour when he reports.”

On 23rd March, 1916 Private Bartle was posted to “D” Company, 37th Battalion. He was promoted to Corporal on 16th April, 1916.

Corporal Thomas William Bartle, Service number 1111, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Persic (A34) on 3rd June, 1916 with the 10th Infantry Brigade, 37th Infantry Battalion, “D” Company & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 25th July, 1916.
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.
He was appointed Lance Sergeant on 27th October, 1916 while posted with 37th Battalion.

From 22nd November, 1916 Lance Sergeant Bartle was on Command at R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps), having been transferred from 37th Battalion. He was posted to No. 1 Australian Squadron, R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps) on 23rd November, 1916.

Lance Sergeant Bartle was on Command at R.F.C. School of Military Aeronautics, Reading, England for instruction from 5th December, 1916.

He gained his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate on 2nd April, 1917 at Military School, Catterick Bridge flying a Maurice Farman Biplane.

On 30th April, 1917 Lance Sergeant Bartle was appointed to Second Lieutenant & was posted to Australian Flying Corps.

Second Lieutenant Thomas William Bartle was taken on strength of No. 69 Squadron, A.F.C. on 11th May, 1917 from No. 52 Reserve Squadron. He was detached for duty with No. 81 Reserve Squadron at Scampton on 13th May, 1917.

He was on Command to Brooklands Wireless & Observers School from 23rd May, 1917 from No. 69 Squadron, A.F.C., South Carlton. Second Lieutenant Bartle was marched in from Wireless & Observers School, Brooklands on 12th June, 1917.

On 16th June, 1917 Second Lieutenant Bartle was on a solo flight in Royal Aircraft Factory BE2E A 1368 from Scampton Aerodrome, Lincoln, England. Second Lieutenant H. H. Wilson, of Australian Flying Corps, was flying in AW (A)1508 over the aerodrome. The two planes collided.

Second Lieutenant Thomas William Bartle died on the evening of 16th June, 1917 as a result of an Aerial accident during a solo flight on BE2E A/368 with a collision with an RE8 over Scampton Aerodrome, Scampton, Lincolnshire, England. Second Lieutenant H. H. Wilson was able to land his aircraft & land it at the aerodrome.

The 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln conveyed the following information to No. 69 Australian Flying Corps: “2/Lieut Bartle was brought here this evening at 7.55 and on arrival was found to be dead. Death must have been instantaneous.”

A Court of Enquiry was held at South Carlton on 17th June, 1917 inquiring into the accident to B.E. 2E. A1368 resulting in the death of 2nd Lieutenant T. W. Bartle.

“The Court find no blame attachable to anyone & that the machine was in perfect flying order.”
From the RAF Casualty Card: “Collided in the air with an A.W. Ct of Inq – Accident thru colliding of ___with 2Lt. H. W. Wilson in A.W. 1508. No evidence to show contrib: negligence on part of Lt H. H. Wilson – he doing all he could to avoid accident.”

He was buried in Providence Baptist Chapelyard, Lumb-In-Rossendale, Lancashire, England – Grave No. 29 Section F and has a private Headstone. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Thomas William Bartle is also remembered on the Family Headstone in Castlemaine General Cemetery, Victoria.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/lumb-in-rossendale.html