Edmund Baron Hartley
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Hartley Court, located off Fore Street in Ivybridge is named after him
In 2013 the community of Ivybridge arranged a plaque to commemorate Hartley’s extreme bravery. This is located at St Johns Church in Ivybridge.
Edmund Baron Hartley
was born in Ivybridge on 6 May 1847 to Dr Edmund Hartley and Sophia Baron. Having been educated privately, Edmund took up a post as clerk with HM Inland Revenue from 1867 until 1869. He then resigned to enter St George’s Hospital Medical School in London, where he took the Diplomas of MRCS, (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons) England in 1874, and later, LRCP, Edinburgh.
In 1874, Hartley travelled to South Africa, taking up the appointment of District Surgeon of British Basutoland until 1877. With hostilities breaking out on the south-eastern frontiers of the Cape Colony he immediately volunteered for service and was appointed Principal Medical Officer of the Cape Colonial Forces a title which changed to Principal Medical Officer of the Cape Mounted Riflemen in August 1878. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1903.
In 1879, the Morosi Rebellion broke out. It was at this time that he received the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. This award was recorded in the London Gazette, 7 October 1881. On the 5th June 1879, Edmund Hartley, aged 32 attended the wounded under fire at the unsuccessful attack at Morosi’s Mountain during the Basuto War in South Africa. From an exposed position, on open ground, he carried in his arms a wounded corporal of the Cape Mounted Riflemen. The surgeon major then returned under severe enemy fire to dress the wounds of the other men of the storming party. He was presented with his Victoria Cross by Brigadier-General Charles M Clarke on 3 December 1881.
In 1880 and 1881, he served in the Basuto Campaign, and in 1882-1883 during the ten months General Gordon commanded the Colonial Forces, Colonel Hartley was his Principal Medical Officer.
In 1897, he served in the Bechuanaland Rebellion, where he was slightly wounded whilst dressing the wounds of a mortally wounded officer. He served throughout the Boer War of 1899-1902 and appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1901 in recognition of his services.
Following his retirement in 1903, he was Commandant of six Voluntary Aid Detachments in Somerset from 1910-1912, and served as Secretary of the Voluntary Aid Hospital, Seaton, Devon during the Great War.
In 1955, the Victoria Cross awarded to Surgeon-Major Hartley, together with six other decorations awarded to him, were acquired by officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps at a Sotheby’s auction for a record price of £300. The medals would be displayed at the R.A.M.C. head-quarters mess adjoining the College. Along with the Victoria Cross, was the Cape General Service Medal with three bars, this being one of only thirteen awarded. The medals now reside at the Museum of Military Medicine, Keogh Barracks in Aldershot.
Edmund Baron Hartley died on 20 March 1919, aged 71. He was laid to rest at Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey.
EDMUND BARON HARTLEY VC CMG
1847-1919
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Edmund was born in Ivybridge on 6 May 1847 to Dr Edmund Hartley and Sophia Baron. Having been educated privately, Edmund took up a post as clerk with HM Inland Revenue from 1867 until 1869. He then resigned to enter St George’s Hospital Medical School in London, where he took the Diplomas of MRCS, (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons) England in 1874, and later, LRCP, Edinburgh.
In 1874, Hartley travelled to South Africa, taking up the appointment of District Surgeon of British Basutoland until 1877. With hostilities breaking out on the south-eastern frontiers of the Cape Colony he immediately volunteered for service and was appointed Principal Medical Officer of the Cape Colonial Forces a title which changed to Principal Medical Officer of the Cape Mounted Riflemen in August 1878. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1903.
In 1879, the Morosi Rebellion broke out. It was at this time that he received the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. This award was recorded in the London Gazette, 7 October 1881. On the 5th June 1879, Edmund Hartley, aged 32 attended the wounded under fire at the unsuccessful attack at Morosi’s Mountain during the Basuto War in South Africa. From an exposed position, on open ground, he carried in his arms a wounded corporal of the Cape Mounted Riflemen. The surgeon major then returned under severe enemy fire to dress the wounds of the other men of the storming party. He was presented with his Victoria Cross by Brigadier-General Charles M Clarke on 3 December 1881.
In 1880 and 1881, he served in the Basuto Campaign, and in 1882-1883 during the ten months General Gordon commanded the Colonial Forces, Colonel Hartley was his Principal Medical Officer.
In 1897, he served in the Bechuanaland Rebellion, where he was slightly wounded whilst dressing the wounds of a mortally wounded officer. He served throughout the Boer War of 1899-1902 and appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1901 in recognition of his services.
Following his retirement in 1903, he was Commandant of six Voluntary Aid Detachments in Somerset from 1910-1912, and served as Secretary of the Voluntary Aid Hospital, Seaton, Devon during the Great War.
In 1955, the Victoria Cross awarded to Surgeon-Major Hartley, together with six other decorations awarded to him, were acquired by officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps at a Sotheby’s auction for a record price of £300. The medals would be displayed at the R.A.M.C. head-quarters mess adjoining the College. Along with the Victoria Cross, was the Cape General Service Medal with three bars, this being one of only thirteen awarded. The medals now reside at the Museum of Military Medicine, Keogh Barracks in Aldershot.
Edmund Baron Hartley died on 20 March 1919, aged 71. He was laid to rest at Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey.
