Friedrich Wilhelm Bartelt was born on 23rd September 1887 in the Somerset village of Corston. He was the younger of two children to Friedrich and Rosanna Bartelt. Born in Prussia, Friedrich Sr was an import and export merchant of oil and chemicals, who had become a magistrate and chemical manufacturer by the time of the 1901 census.

Friedrich Jr – who was also known as William or Fritz, to avoid confusion with his father – had the upbringing to be expected for the son of a prominent businessman.

He was educated first at St Christopher’s, Bath… and afterwards at Bath College, which he entered in September, 1900, and left in December, 1904. He was prominent in sport and as in the school Rugby Fifteen in 1903 and 1904, and a member of the Cricket Eleven in the summers of 1903 and 1904, and was in the second rowing four in 1904. He subsequently studied chemistry… at Bristol University College, and after a time he became a director in the company of which his father is chairman.

Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer: Friday 15th September 1916

Fritz enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry not long after finishing his studies, becoming a Lieutenant in H Company of the Volunteer Battalion, before taking command of G Company. Possibly because other pressures took priority, he stood down from his role in 1911.

On 2nd June 1910, Fritz had married Gertrude Isgar, a gentleman’s daughter from Bathwick, near Bath. The couple went on to have two children, both boys.

[Fritz] was a churchwarden of Corston, and always took a keen interest in all parochial matters, and his loss is very keenly felt in the village. Always kind and genial to all alike, he won the hearts of all with whom he came in contact. His readiness to help, his careful attention to the needs of those around him, and his kindly words and acts will dwell long in the memory of many in Corston.

Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer: Friday 15th September 1916

When war was declared in 1914, Fritz stepped up to play his part, and was given the commission of Captain in the 2nd/4th Battalion of his old regiment, the Somerset Light Infantry.

On December 1, 1915, he sailed for India, when he took charge of his company, and was afterwards given an important post, being appointed in command of his station at Barrackpore [Barrackpur].

Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer: Friday 15th September 1916

Captain Bartelt fell ill in the summer of 1916, and was admitted to a hospital in neighbouring Kolkata. While his condition is not reported on, he seemed to have been improving, but his health then took a downward turn, and he passed away while still admitted, on 11th September 1916. He was 28 years of age.

Fritz William Bartelt’s body was cremated in India. His ashes were returned to England, and were interred in All Saints’ Church in his home parish, Corston, where a plaque and a stained glass window are dedicated to his memory.

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