Robert Archibald Bartley (1877 - 1944)

Born 1877 in New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Lillian Lesley (Hunt) Bartley-Sim — married 1917 in New Zealand

Died 22 Aug 1944 at about age 67 in Auckland, New Zealand

Biography

New Zealand Herald 7th February 1900

LETTER FROM BULUWAYO

The following is a letter from Buluwayo, in Rhodesia, written by Mr. R. A. Bartley a grandson of Mr. Robert Bartley of Devonport

Buluwayo, November 11, 1899. Dear Father,—lt is extremely doubtful if this letter will ever reach you, but I am writing it on the off chance. As of course you are aware, the war is in full swing, in fact at the present moment you know far more about the progress of the war than we do here in Buluwayo although we are only a few hundred miles away and you are thousands. Our position is this; the Boers have crossed the southern border of Rhodesia and have torn up the railway lines and cut the telegraph lines, so you will see that we are practically cut off from the outside world for the time being, as everything comes up here by rail and our news by telegraph. All the Chartered Company's forces have gone down the line a little to try and prevent the Boers coming up any further. They have also sent down from here six armoured trains mounted with big guns, but so far we have had very scanty news as to how our men have got on. What news we have had has been brought to the nearest telegraph station by native runners, and then sent here. Notices are posted every few hours outside the telegraph office here, and then the place is besieged by every one, eager for the news. Volunteers are being enrolled every day, and despatched to the border; in fact what, with the drills and reviews on Market Square, and the scene at the camp where the volunteers enrol and get their kits and ammunition served out to them, the town, has presented the appearance of a military depot for the last few weeks. Besides the volunteers, there is being formed what is called the Town Guard. The Guard is not to be sent away, but to remain here to defend the town in case the Boers get this far. Every man in town is joining the Guard. This is a good idea, as if the Boers get near here, martial law would be proclaimed, and every man in the place would have to go out, and, of course, we shall be all the better for a little drill first. You will see by this we are having rather an exciting time up here at present, but you must not be unnecessarily alarmed. I thought it best to let you know our true position. This letter is going with an English mail by a roundabout way to the coast, so it will be late in reaching you if it gets that far. Your affectionate son, R. A. Bartley

Burial

Date: 28 AUG 1944

Place: Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland

Note: Presbyterian Division D row 11 plot 28

Marriage

Husband: Robert Archibald Bartley

Wife: Lilian Leslie Hunt

Marriage:

Date: 1917

Place: New Zealand

Sources

• "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz).
  • Birth Registration / X / Name: X / Parents: X
  • NZ DIA marriage registration 1917/4710: Lillian Lesley Hunt married Robert Archie Bartley on 5 September 1917
  • NZ DIA death registration 1944/22704: Robert Archibald Bartley (born 1877) passed away aged 67Y on 22 August 1944