JOHN THOMAS HADLEY 1884 – 1915

14515 Private John T. Hadley, 6th Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action 18 November 1915, aged 31.  He is buried at Hill 10 Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.[1]  To date, a local commemoration has not been traced.

Family Details

John Thomas Hadley was born 1884[2] at Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, the son of Walter and Alice Hadley.  There were at least 7 children, all born at Stockton-on-Tees:[3]

• Mary bc.1883
• John Thomas born 1884
• Walter bc.1890
• Alice bc.1891
• James bc.1893
• Robert bc. 1895
• Alfred bc.1898

In 1891, the family lived at Pearson Street, Stockton-on-Tees where 33 years old Walter was employed as an, “iron moulder”.  His younger brother George lived with the family.  He too worked as an, “iron moulder” and both they and Walter’s wife Alice were born at Smethwick, Staffordshire.[4] In 1901, the family lived at 35 Adderley Street, Stockton-on-Tees and Walter was in the same line of work.  John, now 16 years old was employed as an, “iron moulder (apprentice)”. 

22 February 1913, John T. Hadley married Margaret (Maggie) Temple Rowell at Stockton-on-Tees [5] and 3 January 1914, a son Walter Thomas was born at Etherley Dene, Bishop Auckland.[6]

By November 1914, John and his family lived at 11 Church Street, Etherley Dene, Bishop Auckland and he was employed as a, “moulder”.[7]  Maggie later lived at 4 Wood View Terrace, Escomb.[8]

Military Details

4 November 1914, 30 years old John T. Hadley attested and joined the 9th Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment (EYR), being given the service number, 9/14515.[9]  He undertook a medical examination that day and was found to be fit for the Army.  He stood 5’6½” tall, weighed 140 lbs., had a sallow complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.  His religion was Church of England.[10]

Private John T. Hadley was posted to 6/EYR 21 September 1915.[11]  6/EYR was formed at Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire in August 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army (K1) and came under the orders of the 32nd Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division.  In December 1914, it became the Pioneer Battalion to the Division. 

1 July 1915, the battalion sailed from Avonmouth, bound for Gallipoli via Mudros and landed at Suvla Bay 7 August 1915.[12]

The Gallipoli Campaign: a summary

The 8-month campaign in Gallipoli, Turkey was fought by British, Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the western front in France and Belgium and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea.  The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29^th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon to be known as Anzac.  On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla Bay, just north of Anzac.  The climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all 3 fronts.  However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare.  From the end of August, no further serious action was fought and the lines remained unchanged.  The peninsula was successfully evacuated in December and early January 1916.[13] 

However, Private J.T. Hadley did not see action in these engagements.  He landed on the Gallipoli peninsula as a draft to reinforce his battalion in early October 1915.[14] 

6/EYR was a Pioneer Battalion to the 11th (Northern) Division and not a lead infantry battalion.  It landed at Suvla Bay after the main assault.  Nevertheless, it saw action on 2 days, 8 and 9 August.  On the 9th, the War Diary reported a total of 350 casualties, as follows:[15]

“During the 2 days Aug 8th & 9th, the casualties of the Battn were as follows – KILLED Capt. A.S.C. Rogers (8.8.15), Capt. N.D. Pringle (9.8.15) WOUNDED Major C.L. Estridge (8.8.15), Capt. A. Grant (9.8.15), Capt. H.L. Willarts (9.8.15), 2ndLt. Underwood (9.8.15), 2ndLt. J.C. Banks (9.8.15), WOUNDED & MISSING Lt. H. Huggard (9.8.15), 2ndLt. J.H. Newman (9.8.15). MISSING Lt. Col. H.G.A. Moore (9.8.15), Capt. R.D.E. Elliot (9.8.15), Lt R.A. Rawstorne, Lt. S. Jalland (9.8.15), 2ndLt. Still (9.8.15), 2ndLt. R.P. Wilson (9.8.15).

Other ranks KILLED 20, WOUNDED 104, WOUNDED & MISSING 28, MISSING 183.”

The battalion was to see more front line action later in the month, 22 August, in the vicinity of Nibrunsi Point.  Casualties totalled 206 and were reported as follows:[16]

“Losses KILLED Lt. H. Garrett, Lt. G.H. Mee, WOUNDED Major Cowper, Sec Lt. Coultas, WOUNDED & MISSING Sec Lt. Hoskin, Lt. Steele, Lt. Dingle.  NCOs & men KILLED 22, WOUNDED 128 MISSING 49.”

Later research records that between 7 August and 20 December 1915, the period when 6/EYR served at Gallipoli, the battalion lost a total of 250 men, 12 officers and 238 other ranks, killed in action and died of wounds or illness.  Of these about 90% were lost during the landings at Suvla Bay, 6/7 August and the attempted breakout 21/22 August when a total of 11 officers and 215 men were killed in action or died of wounds during the month of August.[17]

Private J.T. Hadley landed on the peninsula as a draft after these actions.[18]  The War Diary provides a list of 200 reinforcements who arrived 3 October 1915 which includes Private J.T. Hadley.  At the beginning of the month, the effective strength of the battalion at Suvla Bay, was 25 officers and 807 other ranks[19] which increased to 863 other ranks by 23 October 1915. [20]  The war diary provides details of working parties which were required for work such as repairing roads, trenches, dug outs, and various tasks at field ambulances and HQs.  It also provided a new cemetery.  An entry for 18 November reads: [21]

“One man killed. Pte Hadley of B Coy – + 2 men wounded by shrapnel.”

During the 14 week period between Private J.T. Hadley’s arrival and the end of the campaign, 6/EYR casualties were relatively light  – no officers and 14 other ranks, including those who died through illness, were lost.[22]  Clearly, offensive actions were much reduced and the 3 casualties of the day (18 November) are likely to have been a result of indiscriminate enemy shelling. 

Private J.T. Hadley served 1 year and 15 days, 59 days overseas with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.[23]

Awards and Medals

Private John T. Hadley was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory and British War medals.[24]

Burial

Private John T. Hadley was originally buried at Park Lane Cemetery, Suvla.  His next of kin was informed 16 January 1920.[25]  This cemetery was either renamed or he was reinterred at grave reference I.G.12, Hill 10 Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.[26]

Effects and Pension

Private John T. Hadley’s widow Margaret received his effects[27]and his pension.[28]

Commemoration

To date, I have not found a local commemoration for Private John T. Hadley.

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REFERENCES

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)

[2] England & Wales Birth Index 1837-1915 Vol.a0 p.49 Stockton 1884 Q3

[3] 1891 & 1901 census

[4] 1891 census

[5] England & Wales Marriage Index 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.84 Stockton 1913 Q1 and Particulars of marriage and Army Form W.5080

[6] England & Wales Birth Index 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.480 Auckland 1914 Q1, Particulars of marriage and children and Army Form W.5080

[7] Army Form B.2065 (Short Service 3 years with the colours)

[8] Army Form W.5080

[9] Army Form B.2065 (Short Service 3 years with the colours)

[10] Description & Army Form B.178 (Medical History)

[11] Statement of the Services

[12]https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/east-yorkshire-regiment/

[13] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[14] Medal Roll card index

[15] 6th Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment War Diary August 1915 National Archives reference WO95/4298

[16] 6th Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment War Diary August 1915 National Archives reference WO95/4298

[17] Officers and Soldiers Died in the Great War (ODGW & SDGW)

[18] Medal Roll card index

[19] Field Return Army Form B.213 dated 9 October 1915

[20] Field Return Army Form B.213 dated 23 October 1915

[21] 6th Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment War Diary November 1915 National Archives reference WO95/4298

[22] ODGW & SDGW

[23] Military History Sheet

[24] Medal Roll card index and rolls dated 5 December 1919 & 14 August 1920

[25] Statement of the Services

[26] CWGC

[27] UK Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects 1902-1920 Record No.231624

[28] Dependant’s Pension card index