Mr Wallace Henry Hartley, 33, was the son of Albion and Elizabeth Hartley of Colne, Lancashire. But at the time of his death, his home was Surreyside, West Park Street, Dewsbury, England. He had led orchestras in Harrogate and Bridlington and was a member of the Savage Club in Leeds.
Hartley, a violinist, worked on the Cunard Liner Mauretania before leaving to become bandmaster on the Titanic. He had a fiancé in Boston Spa, near Wetherby in Yorkshire and spent time with her in that village the week before boarding the Titanic.
After the collision, Hartley led the orchestra in playing ragtime tunes. According to legend they also played the hymn Nearer, My God, To Thee!
His body was recovered as #224 on May 4th 1912 the body was transferred from Halifax to Boston for its return to Liverpool on board the Arabic where it arrived on May 12th. From Liverpool, the body was taken by hearse to Hartley's boyhood hometown of Colne, Lancashire. The funeral was held at the Bethel Independent Methodist church where Hartley had been a choirboy.
NO.224 - MALE - ESTIMATED AGE, 25 - HAIR, BROWN
CLOTHING - Uniform (green facing); brown overcoat; black boots; green socks.
EFFECTS - Gold fountain pen, "W.H.H."; diamond solitaire ring; silver cigarette case; letters; silver match box, marked "W.H.H., from Collingson's staff. Leeds"; telegram to Hotley, Bandmaster "Titanic"; nickel watch; gold chain; gold cigar holder; stud; scissors; 16s; 16 cents; coins.
BANDMASTER WALLACE H. HOTLEY
In 2013 Wallace Hartley's violin was sold at auction for £900,000 ($1.6m).
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