27 Jul 2005
Husband: Percy Charles HARTE died at age: 73
Born: 3 Aug 1873 in 2 St Ann's Terrace Marylebone 1
Resided: 1881 at 22/24 St Anne Terrace Middx 2
Census: 31 Mar 1901 at 27 Cranley Gardens Hornsey Middx
Resided: 18 Aug 1909 at Westbury, Holden Road, North Finchley 3
Resided: 1 Jun 1935 at Glen Wathen, Finchley North London
Resided: at Ashmount, Woodside Avenue Finchley
Occupation: 1901 Chief Secretary's Clerk L S W Bank 4
Occupation: 1912 Joint City Manager London & South Western Bank 5
Occupation: 1932 Treasurer Barclays Bank 6,7
Died: 4 Jan 1947 in Totteridge North London
Cause of death: Congestive cardiac failure; myocardial degradation; chronic bronchitis
Probate: 7 Mar 1947 at Principal Probate Registry London 8
Father: Edward William HARTE
Mother: Mary Ann CULLEN
Wife: Edith RUSS died at age: 64
Married: 5 July 1897 in St John's Wood Presbyterian Church 9,10
Born: 17 Jun 1875 at 3.15 am - Northampton Sq Clerkenwell 11,12
Died: 10 Feb 1940 in Middlesex Hospital
Baptized: 18 Sept 1875 at St George's Hanover Square 13
Father: Christian Carl Gottfried RUSS
Mother: Emily CALLAWAY
F Child 1: Doris Edith HARTE died at age: 82
Born: 4 Nov 1898 in Crouch End Hornsey 14
Died: 27 Sep 1981 in Bournemouth 15
Resided: at 94 Fir Tree Road Banstead Surrey
Census: 31 mar 1901 at 27 Cranley Gardens Hornsey 16
Spouse: Albert Edward WITHERS b. c 1890 d. c 1985
M Child 2: Percy Dudley HARTE
Born: 17 April 1903 at 27 Cranley Gardens, Muswell Hill Road
Emigrated: to South Africa as young adult
Died: 1970 in South Africa - date unsure
Spouse: Phemie DOWER d. 1980
Resided (family): in Tamboers Kloof Cape Town
M Child 3: Harold Edward HARTE died at age: 88
Born: 26 Sep 1907 in Barnet North London
Died: 10 Aug 1996 in Crowborough Sussex
Cause of death: Senile myocardial degeneration; squamous cell carcinoma scalp
Education: Berkhamstead School
Occupation: 1925 - 1950 Barclays Bank
Occupation: 1950 - 1967 Barclays Trustee Manager, Brighton
Resided: 1 Jun 1935 at Glen Wathen, Finchley North London
Resided: at Fen Ditton, Peter Ave Oxted Surrey
Event: 1940 Evacuated to Exeter
Resided: at The Garth, Limpsfield Surrey
Resided: 1950 - 1967 at Devonshire House, Dyke Road Ave Hove
Spouse: Marjorie Irene SCAIFE Formal name Peggy b. 15 Jan 1907 d. 19 Aug 1998
Married: 1 Jun 1935 in All Saints Carshalton Father LAH Isaac officiated 17
Separated: 1967
M Child 4: Leslie Patrick HARTE died at age: 31
Born: 18 Aug 1909 at Westbury, Holden Road, North Finchley 18
Education: LDS, LRCS (England), DMD (Harvard)
Occupation: Dental Surgeon
Military: Capt. Army Dental Corps - att'd RAMC
Died: 25 Apr 1941 in Mediterranean 19,20,21,22
Buried: May 1941 in Alexandria Egypt Hadra 2.A.1 23
Resided: 6 Feb 1935 at 23 Nassau St, London W 1 24
Spouse: Doris May PONTING Nickname Doree b. 1908 d. 1985
Married: 6 Feb 1935 at All Souls Langham Place 25
Sources:
(1) Certified Copy, as recorded on Birth Certificate; 1881 Census has 22/24 St
Anne Terrace.
(2) Census 1881, RG11 piece 0162 Fol 91 page 24.
(3) Certified Copy, Leslie Harte birth certificate.
(4) Census 1901, RG13-1244-127-34 SN168.
(5) A Short History of the London & South Western Bank Ltd (Blades, East &
Blades 1913), 'It [the Bank] now enters more freely into the higher range of
financial affairs of the Country. With a balance sheet running into over
£23,000,000 and a reserve equal to its capital, it is fully fitted to fill such
a position, and its claims have been completely recognised. Mr. Hambling
[General Manager] has Mr. Straker as his Assistant General Manager and the City
Office is under the control of Messrs. P.C. Harte and J.J. Spear', 13.
(6) A.W. Tuke & R.J.H. Gillman, Barclays Bank Limited 1926 - 1969 (Barclays
Bank1972), 'On the day when Bank Rate was reduced to 2 per cent, 30 June 1932,
an offer was announced to exchange the 5 per cent War loan, which was redeemable
at any time between 1929 and 1947, into an irredeemable 3.5 per cent stock, and
big holders such as ourselves were put under severe moral pressure to accept.
It had been generally believed that because of the immense amount of this stock
in issue, over £2,000 million, the Government would have to tackle it piecemeal,
but not only did they redeem it in one bite, but they offered an irredeemable
stock in exchange for a redeemable one, which was not at all in accordance with
the best traditions of the City. This event was particularly galling to us
because it was not long since our Treasurer, Percy Harte, holding strongly the
belief to which I have referred, and expressing it very dogmatically as was his
custom, had persuaded the Chairman that we should be wise to sell our holding of
3.5 per cent Conversion Stock, another irredeemable security, at about 90 and
buy in its place the redeemable 5 per cent War Loan at something over par.
Imagine their feelings when they discovered that they had sold a stock at 90 and
bought back at over 100 one which was scarcely distinguishable from it. F.C.G
[F C Goodenough - Chairman] never forgave Harte for this error of judgement, but
Harte was in good company. A little later I heard a whisper that the investor
on the other end of this transaction was the Midland Bank, but I do not suppose
that anyone dared tell F.C.G. this; certainly I did not. Se non e vero, e ben
trovato', 34.
(7) A.W. Tuke & R.J.H. Gillman, Barclays Bank Limited 1926 - 1969 (Barclays
Bank1972), 'Another scandal where we were bankers to the company was that of the
Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. Here the company did not fail, though it had to
be reorganized, but its chairman, Lord Kylsant, found himself in the dock, and
eventually in prison, because of a failure which could be described as technical
to disclose in a prospectus that certain losses had been met out of reserves and
that dividends had been paid without that fact having been stated. It is highly
unlikely that Lord Kylsant intended at any time to be dishonest, but he was not
accustomed to listening to advice if it did not suit him: a typical case of
'hubris' being visited by its inevitable 'nemesis'. Although we were one of the
bankers to the company, our name fortunately did not appear on the prospectus in
question. We have already met the Bank's treasurer, Percy Harte, in connection
with an investment transaction which did not turn out very happily. One of the
treasurer's sidelines was the 'vetting' of any customer's prospectus on which
the Bank's name was to appear, and in these cases, although we took no
reponsibility for the issue and merely had to receive the applications, we were
accustomed to look at the draft with a critical eye and if necessary to require
alterations to be made before it was issued. When the Royal Mail prospectus
came along Harte found one or two flaws in it, and told his Lordship's minion
that certain alterations would have to be made if the Bank's name was to appear.
The minion said 'I can't tell Lord Kylsant that', to which Harte replied 'All
right, send him to me; I'll tell him'. Charged with this even more embarrassing
message the minion withdrew, and we later heard that our support was not
required.', 38.
(8) Probate Registry certified copy, 'And it is hereby certified...........that
the gross value of the said Estate in Great Britain..............amounts to £102
770 - 2 - 8 and that the net value of the personal estate amounts to £97 454 -
10 -4. And it is further certified.............that £33 010- 13 - 6 on account
of Estate Duty and interest in such duty has been paid'.
(9) DK, 'Edith had married a bank clerk', 23.
(10) Certified Copy, 'aged 23 - bank clerk, residing at 7 Gladys Road, Hampstead
to Edith Russ aged 21 spinster; of 27 Clifton Hill, Marylebone at St John's Wood
Presbyterian Church, Marlborough Place by certificate by J M Gibson'.
(11) Emily Callaway, Day Book, 'Edith born June 17th 1875 at 3.15 am registered
June 28th Parish of Clerkenwell, christened at St George's W. September 18th'.
(12) Census 1901, London Northampton Sq, RG13-1244-127 p34.
(13) Emily Callaway, Day Book.
(14) Census 1901, "London Crough End Mdx", RG13-1244-127-34 SN168.
(15) Death Notice, 'WITHERS - On Sept 27 1981 in a Bournemouth nursing home,
DORIS EDITH, aged 82 years, dearly loved wife of Edward. Service Bournemouth
Crematorium on Thursday Oct 1 at 10.45 am. No flowers, please but, donations if
desired for the RUKBA, may be sent to George Scott & Son (F.D.) Ltd 13/15
Somerset Road, Boscombe Bournemouth. Tel 35827'.
(16) Census 1901, "Doris Edith Hart age 2 born London Crough End Mdx",
RG13-1244-127-34 SN168.
(17) Certified Copy, June first 1935: All Saints Church, Carshalton by L A H Isaac
Priest:
Harold Edward Harte age 27 - Bank official of Glen Wathen Finchley N3 - father
Percy Charles Harte [Treasurer of Barclays Bank - retd]
and Marjorie Irene Scaife age 28 of Tregarrick, South Rise, Carshalton - father
Edwin George Scaife (deceased) [Drapers Buyer]
Witnesses Percy C Harte, Edwin S Scaife and E G Scaife.
(18) Certified Copy, Birth registered by Percy Charles Harte - Bank Manager - on
28 Sep 1909 before George Smith Registrar [entry no. 32]
(19) Maj R A Stephen, 'nobody saw him embark on a boat........One of the ships
that did get away was sunk.....A destroyer was sunk picking up survivors and I
know definitely that Leslie wasn't aboard it. I found that out from one of the
survivors. I can't tell if he was on the first boat or not', 13 Jun 41.
(20) Maj R A Stephen, 'At one time it looked as if our unit was going to be
captured so a proportion of them were evacuated ahead of the rest. Leslie was
amongst these. The majority of these embarked on a Greek ship which was
attacked by dive bombers and sunk. Two destroyers went to the rescue and both
of these were sunk. There were only eight survivors from the three ships', 5
Oct 41.
(21) Winston Churchill, The Second World War, "During the nights of the 24th and
25th, 17,000 men were brought out, with the loss of two transports. On the
following night about 19,500 were got away from five embarkation points. At
Nauplion there was disaster. The transport Slamat in a gallant but misguided
effort to embark the maximum stayed too long in the anchorage. Soon after dawn,
when clearing the land, she was attacked and sunk by dive-bombers. The
destroyers Diamond and Wryneck, who rescued most of the 700 men on board, were
both in turn sunk by air attack a few hours later. There were only fifty
survivors from all three ships.", vol III ch 12- The Greek Campaign.
(22) Certified Copy, HARTE Leslie Patrick P/93936/5 - Lt (WS/Capt) Army Dental
Corps [Emergency commission] age 31: date of death 'between 28/4/1941 and
4/7/1941' in either Greece or at Sea in the Eastern Mediterranean. Died as a
result of military operations in Greece, Copy of Death Certificate from teh
return of Officers Killed in Action or who have died while on Service Abroad.
(23) Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org), 'In Memory of LESLIE
PATRICK HARTE
Captain 93936 Army Dental Corps attd., Royal Army Medical Corps
who died on Friday, 25th April 1941. Age 31.
Additional Information:
Son of Percy Charles and Edith Harte; husband of Doris May Harte, of Golders
Green, Middlesex. L.D.S., L.R.C.S.(England), D.M.D.(Harvard).
Commemorative Information
Cemetery: ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt
Grave Reference/Panel Number: 2. A. 1.
Location:
Hadra is a district on the eastern side of Alexandria and is south of the main
carriageway to Aboukir, known as Al Horaya, near the University of Alexandria.
The Cemetery is on the road Sharia Manara. The junction of this road and Al
Horaya is diagonally opposite the University of Alexandria.
Historical Information:
During the 1914-1918 War, Alexandria became a great Anglo-French camp and
hospital centre, and in 1915 was made the base of the Mediterranean
Expeditionary Force. The 1939-1945 War saw Alexandria again an important centre.
To the hospitals were brought casualties from the campaigns in Greece, Crete and
the Aegean islands; camps were set up for men on leave from the desert; Kom el
Dikk Fort (constructed in 1799 by the Napoleonic leader Colonel Criban and
occupied by the British from 1882 until February 1947) was the centre of
military telephonic and telegraphic communications for the Middle and Near East,
the Headquarters of the Military Police and a powerful anti-aircraft base; and
from the port sailed convoys bearing supplies to hard-pressed Malta. The
original part of the cemetery, which is built partly over Roman catacombs, was
acquired in February 1916, when it was found that the cemetery at Chatby, a few
hundred yards to the North-West, would not be large enough for all the burials
from the Alexandria hospitals. It was first used in April 1916, under the name
of Hadra New Military Cemetery, and it remained in use until December 1919.
Nearly all the burials took place from the 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st General
Hospitals and the Military Hospital at Ras-el-Tin; but a number of graves of
December, 1917 are due to the sinking of transports outside Alexandria. In
December 1919 and January 1920 sixty British graves from some small graveyards
in the Western Desert (due mostly to operations against the Senussi Arabs) and
from Maadia and Rosetta were brought in. There are now 1692, 1914-18 war and
1313, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this cemetery. Of these 20, 1914-18
and 68, 1939-45 are unidentified. Also commemorated in this site are 44 Foreign
National and 18 non-world war casualties'.
(24) Certified Copy, Marriage Certificate.
(25) Certified Copy, 6 Feb 1935: Leslie Patrick Harte age 25 Dental Surgeon - 23
Nassau St London W 1 - to Doris May Ponting age 26 - Pembury, Friern Lane,
Whetstone: Church of ALl SOuls ST Marylebone by L F E Foxell. Witnesses - both
fathers: Percy Charles Harte [Banker] and William Robert Ponting [Broker]