Name
Wilfred Robert Mortleman
31 Mar 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/12/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Honourable Artillery Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BELLS HILL BURIAL GROUND
Plot E.7. Grave 1047.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
We are not aware of any memorial in Bells Hill,
Abingdon School WW1 plaque. Abingdon, Oxon.
Pre War
Wilfred Robert was born on 31 Mar 1891 in Stoke Newington to James Mortleman, a shipowner’s chief clerk, and Ada Maude (nee White). On the 1891 Census the family were living at 116, Bethune Road, Stoke Newington (although Wilfred is only declared as an infant, he has two older brothers, James William and Dudley Felix). By the 1901 Census Wilfred was living at Milverton, New Barnet with his father, mother, younger brother Edgar and younger sisters Winifred and Beatrice. By the 1911 Census Wilfred, still living at home, was an articled clerk working at Price, Waterhouse, chartered accountants. Wilfred attended the Abingdon School in Oxfordshire as did all his brothers.
Wilfred, Gunner 355, enlisted with Honourable Artillery Company at Armoury House, London on 1 Mar 1909. Wilfred married Marjorie Alice Yolland in Barnet in Late 1918.
Wartime Service
Wilfred was mobilised with H A C and went to Egypt on 10 Apr 1915 as part of A & B Batteries. While serving with D Battery HAC in Aug 1915 he was hospitalised suffering from Jaundice. He was commissioned on 30 Oct 1915 as Second Lieutenant and posted to 3/7 London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. On 21 Aug 1916, while serving with A Battery 237 Brigade RFA, He was treated for Shell Shock at 34 Casualty Clearing Station and evacuated to UK on 27 Aug 1916.
He was admitted to Catterick Mliitaryl Hospital on 13 Sep 1918 for treatment for shell shock. On 29 Dec 1918 whilst at Catterick he was taken to hospital from a wound but was found dead on arrival. It was later reported that “(He was) Admitted dead. Suicide:-Verdict "That the said Wilfred Robert Mortleman, on the 29th day of December 1918 by shooting himself with a revolver whilst temporarily insane from the effects of shell shock, did die." Wilfred was interred in Bells Hill Burial Ground in a plot share with his mother and father.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £7 10s and arrears of £178 17s 2d was paid to his widow. Brother Edgar Alan also enlisted on the same day in Hon Arty Coy (ser. 354) also served in Egypt and served with HAC as a Captain in WW2.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
