Lieutenant, 7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal’s), attached to the Machine Gun Corps.
D’Arcy was born in Malpas, Cheshire on 1st July 1890, one of at least three children of John D'Arcy Hartley and Isabel Mary J. Hartley who later lived in Billesdon Coplow, Leicestershire.
He was educated at Downside School (1901 to 1902) and during his short stay he gave every promise of distinguishing himself at athletics.
From Downside he went to Eton, and in 1910 he proceeded to Merton College, Oxford. He was an excellent athlete (gaining his blue), and represented Oxford in the long jump in 1911 (which he won) and 1912. He was also a member of the universities’ team which competed against both Yale and Harvard.
He was also a useful cricketer and a fine horseman, representing Oxford at Olympia in horse jumping.
He had always intended to join the army and was given a commission in the Dragoon Guards in September 1914.
He went to France on 10th March 1915.
D’Arcy Hartley died on 14th July 1916, aged 26.
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