Hartley, Thomas Earl

Pte. Thomas Earl Hartley, younger son of Mr. and Mrs., Samuel Hartley, 135 Terrace Hill St., was another of the Canadians who made the supreme sacrifice in the battle of Normandy, early in the invasion of the European continent. It was on July 15, 1944, in the Caen sector, that Pte. Hartley lost his life fighting with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. He now lies buried at Rocrenil, near the scene of his last battle action. Born in Brantford, March 14, 1912, Pte. Hartley spent his entire boyhood here. He attended Victoria and Graham Bell Schools and the Collegiate Institute. He was a member of Sydenham Street United Church. When his school days were over, he turned to the land to earn his living and for almost nine years farmed until he enlisted in 1939 with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. He trained at Camp Borden and was transferred overseas late in 1940. While in England, he was married on November 29, 1941, to Miss Winnifred Watson, Guildford, Surrey, who with his son, Barry Earl, survive him.


Back to Search Results