Private J L Hartland

Pte J. L. Hartland KIA – a name on a memorial.

'Their name liveth for evermore.”

A line from Ecclesiasticus, chapter 44, verse 14, which English writer Rudyard Kipling suggested as an epitaph to be carved alongside names on WW1 memorials.

Names like Robert Baikie, 22, blacksmith, Scottish country dancing instructor and bag pipe player – serial number 38484. William McLaren, 25, schoolmaster. And 36-year-old Bullick, initial T but no Christian name, 13588, pigeon breeding electrician, awarded the French military Croix de Guerre for heroism. All killed in action in France.

They are three of 41 Tauranga men who died in 1918 – the last year of WW1.

'Names that liveth for evermore” – but what is known of those people, the servicemen and women whose names appear on memorials around the region?

Such as John L Hartland – he was 28 when he died of wounds in France on March 31, 1918, just four months before the conflict ended.

The Tauranga Heritage Trust has been able to paint a fuller picture of the man, the personality and uniqueness that makes a person who they are.

John was a son of a John and Francis Hartland. We know he was employed as a clerk by New Zealand Loan and Mercantile in Tauranga, a stock and station agency representing farmers on all things agricultural.

He enjoyed firearms and was a member of the Defence Rifle Club, a small bore gun club. John L Hartland was also a volunteer fireman, a tennis player, football player and thespian – he enjoyed amateur dramatics. So a multi-faceted man with a community spirit, and a sportsman with an artistic bent.

That's who he was and what he did, but what about the personality? A letter reveals something of the man. It was written on May 16, 1918 by a W Housby of the No 2 NZ Field Ambulance – and again provided to The Weekend Sun by the Tauranga Heritage Trust.

Housby refers to Les – the ‘L' in John L Hartland. 'He was a true pal,” wrote Housby. 'Always merry and bright and ever ready to do more than his share of any work.”

Housby describes John as 'a chum” who had 'enjoyed happy times” at various military camps in New Zealand before embarking for a Kiwi camp at Sling in Wiltshire, England. 'At Sling they seemed to delight in separating chums.”

They wrote regularly, always hoping to meet up, but never would. 'In every letter [Les] wrote how pleased he would be when he got in and did his bit. And his chance came on the Somme.”

Housby was at an advanced stretcher bearer post just behind the front line when John's regiment marched past to 'go in”.

'I was eagerly looking out for him. I asked one of the boys if he was with them and I nearly dropped down when he told me Les had been badly wounded and since died of wounds. The chap said he saw him fall and paid him the soldier's compliment by adding ‘He was a fine brave chap'.

'I received official confirmation from London to the effect Private Hartland had died of wounds in the 56th Casualty Clearing Station, France, on March 31.” Housby had been with a stretcher-bearing party on the line the day before. 'The Aucklanders went over on a raid that day and captured a lot of prisoners. It was a fine piece of work and I am sure Les did his share before he went under. It is hard to think that I may have passed him on a stretcher as he came through.”

Housby says Private J L Hartland – Les or John - died nobly doing his duty. 'I know he was quite prepared to give his all for the cause.”

The name, Private John L Hartland, and now a little of his story, 'liveth for evermore.”

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