Australian Dictionary of Biography

Charles Henry Falkner Hope Bartlett (1853-1916), by Falk Studios

Australian War Memorial, P01327.003

Charles Henry Falkner Hope Bartlett (1853-1916), soldier, was born on 1 August 1853 at Maitland, New South Wales, son of Falkner Hope Bartlett, pastoralist, and his wife Hephzibah Elizabeth, née Hallett. He was educated by private tutors and trained as a solicitor but did not practise. In 1872 he joined the East Maitland Company of the Northern Battalion, New South Wales Volunteer Force, and was commissioned captain in March 1875. When the Force was reorganized three years later, he reverted to the rank of lieutenant, but was again made captain in October 1880. He resigned from the volunteer infantry on 21 November 1883 and next day joined the New South Wales Permanent Military Forces; immediately commissioned captain, he was appointed adjutant of the 1st Australian Infantry Regiment.

In 1885 Bartlett went to the Sudan as adjutant of the New South Wales infantry contingent. He took part in the advance on Tamai, the only notable skirmish of the campaign, was mentioned in dispatches, and was awarded the Egypt Medal and clasp and the Khedive Star, the standard campaign decorations. On returning home he resumed duty with the 1st Regiment. In 1887 he went to England on leave and, while there, obtained permission to undergo military instruction. He was attached to the 1st Manchester Regiment at Aldershot in July, and next month attended a course at the School of Musketry, Hythe; he later completed another course there, qualifying as an instructor in the operation of Nordenfelt and Gardner machine-guns. He was promoted major that year and on 20 December 1888 married Ada Louisa Gale at St Thomas's Anglican Church, Willoughby, New South Wales.

In 1893-95 Bartlett served as deputy assistant adjutant general at New South Wales headquarters; he became adjutant of the 3rd Australian Regiment in 1895, was promoted brevet lieutenant-colonel in 1899, and was appointed to the administrative and instructional staff of the 3rd and 4th Regiments in 1902, then to the instructional staff at State headquarters, Commonwealth Military Forces, in 1904. Two years later he became assistant adjutant general and chief staff officer there. His last appointment, on 23 December 1909, was as aide-de-camp to the governor-general, the Earl of Dudley; he retired, with step in rank to colonel, on 1st April 1912. He was a foundation member and councillor of the United Service Institution of New South Wales.

Bartlett died of pneumonia on 17 June 1916 at Woollahra, survived by his wife and two sons and predeceased by his only daughter. After a service at St Matthias Anglican Church, Paddington, he was buried in South Head cemetery with full military honours.

A man of exceptional tact and loyalty, with a firm grasp of administrative and tactical procedures, Bartlett was a staff officer of outstanding merit. As director of many training and promotion courses he made a significant contribution to the training of volunteers.