Name
Joachim Charles Hartert
2 Nov 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/10/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
East Yorkshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
COURCELLES-AU-BOIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
A. 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
(INTEGER VITAE SCELERISQUE PURUS. (pure in life and free from sin)
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Joachim Karl Hastert was born in Tring on 2 Nov 1893 to Ernst Johann Otto Hastert, director Tring Museum, and Claudia.
On the 1901 Census Joachim, or Charles, as seems to have been known, was living with his mother Claudia and Eliza King, their cook, at 112, Park Street, Tring.
Charles was educated at Berkhamsted School and Wadham College, Oxford.
Wartime Service
Charles was commissioned as Second Lieutenant on 23 Sep 1914 from the Officers Training Corps and posted to 8th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment which was forming at Beverley, Yorkshire as part of 62 Brigade, 21 Division. The Division was stationed in the Tring area for training and was mobilised and went to France in Sep 15. They force marched to the Battle of Loos (25 Sep- 8 Oct 1915) where they went into action on the second day suffering heavy casualties. On 16 Nov 1915 the Division transferred to 8th Brigade, 3rd Division at Ypres to take part in Actions at the Bluff & St Eloi Craters (14 Feb- 2 Mar 1916). The Division moved to the Somme where they took part in the Battle of Delville Wood (15 Jul- 3 Sep 1916) and were present in Serre area when Charles was killed by shellfire when in action on 28 Oct 1916.
From the Bucks Herald, 11th November 1916: “Lieut. J. C. Hartert: In Monday’s Roll of Honour appeared the official announcement that Lieut. J Charles Hartert, East Yorkshire Regiment, had been killed. The sad news had reached Tring on the previously Wednesday night. Lieut Hartert was the only child of Dr E. Hartert, curator of Lord Rothschild’s Zoological Museum. He was educated at Berkhamsted School, and is well remembered in cricketing circles here as a keen and competent exponent of the national game. He was frequently seen in the Tring Park Ground, where he not only played for his school, but also assisted the local club, of which he was a member. A young man of modest bearing and amiable disposition, and a keen sportsman, he is very kindly remembered by all with whom he came in contact.
He gained a commission, and was posted to the East Yorks. in the early days of the war. At the time the 21st Division, of which his regiment was a unit, was training in the district. He went out to France with the Division, and only a few weeks ago he was home on leave. Now he has made the supreme sacrifice.”
From the War Diary : ‘1916 SERRE Sector18th Oct to 31st Oct:
Provided usual working & carrying parties to trenches. On the 20th a practice attack was again carried out over specially marked area, as a unit of the Brigade. On the 23rd the practice attack was again carried out by the Division. On the 27th. ‘A’, ‘B’ & ‘C’ Coys proceed to the trenches in the SERRE Sector. ‘B Coy. was attached to the 1st Gordon Highlanders & ‘A’ & ‘C’ Companies were attached to the 1st Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers of the 76th Brigade – During a tour lasting 48 hours, casualties numbering 2 officers & 8 other ranks were sustained. In the 2 Officer Casualties (Captain C. P. Taylor & Lieut. J. C. Hartert, killed in action, 28/10/16) the Battalion lost two of its original Officers.’
Additional Information
Arrears of £117 17s 5d was paid to his father, who had probate of £323 1s 0d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
