BARTLEY, Reginald and Patrick

Reginald and Patrick, the sons of Richard and Angelina Bartley, were eighteen year old Farm Labourers at Howell near Inverell when, with their parents consent, they enlisted at Inverell. The brothers were amongst the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs which left Inverell on 12 January 1916 and went into Camp at Narrabri. After moving to the Armidale camp they joined the 33rd Battalion.

Patrick sailed from Australia in May 1916 and Reginald left in September. After arriving in England they had further training at Salisbury Plain before going to France. During January 1917 Patrick was wounded in action, invalided back to England and in September returned to Australia for medical discharge. Patrick was granted a pension of thirty shillings per fortnight from 4 November 1917.

Reginald was Killed in Action on 7 June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. He has no known grave and his name is inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. On 9 July a requiem mass was held in memory of Reginald at his home town of Howell.

Their elder brother Edward served in Egypt and France during the War.

Patrick’s name is recorded on the Inverell Honor Roll. Reginald’s name is on the Tingha and Inverell Honor Rolls and the Inverell Cenotaph. He was one of the 215 men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajongs Parade in 1919. Their names are also recorded on the Howell Public School Roll of Honour.

Image: Reginald (L) and Patrick Bartley (R) courtesy IDFHG