Lt. James William Hartley

Lieutenant James William Hartley

James (Jimmie) William Hartley was born in Ottawa, May 8, 1917. He joined the militia of the Ottawa Machine Gun Corps just prior to his 16th birthday. When his family moved to Cornwall the following year, Jimmie enlisted in the militia of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (SD&G, Glens). On September 1, 1939, he enrolled in the regular army as a Company Quarter Master Sergeant. He moved with the SD&G in training exercises around various army camps in Canada. By July 21, 1941 when the Glens boarded HMS Orion at Halifax, Jimmie was Acting Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. After arriving in England, he was stationed with the Canadian army as the armed forces continued to prepare for an active role in the war. On September 10, 1942, he sailed for Canada, disembarking at Halifax. Nine months in Canada allowed him to earn his officer's commission, and gave him opportunity to meet his daughter, who was born while he was overseas. He left Canada via Pier 21 on June 10, 1943.For the next year in England, he, with the other allied troops, continued to train for the invasion of "fortress Europe". Lieutenant Hartley landed on Juno Beach with the 9th Infantry Brigade, part of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. He was a member of one of the first infantry companies to enter Caen on July 9. On July 18, Jimmie and some of his platoon were killed during very heavy fighting at Columbelles by allied artillery fire. He is buried in the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Beny-sur-Mer, Normandy.