Photo editing by  Rich Carl, and submitted by John Adriani.

  On Friday, November 12, 1943 at 0913, Lieutenant Commander Kenneth J. Hartley, Commanding Officer, received multiple fracture, extreme, of the head and face as the result of an accident in the vicinity of the #1 3"/50 caliber gun. The Brough was in very rough waters. Water coming aboard had bent the shield of #1 gun. Captain Hartley, with Ensign E. B. Smith and CBM Sicola, were investigating, and all three were standing inside the gunshield of the #1 gun. A heavy sea was taken aboard and all three men were knocked down by it. Ensign Smith and CBM Sicola picked themselves up inside the gunshield and found Captain Hartley lying against the life- line on the starboard side, outboard of and at the after end of the gunshield. Ensign Smith and CBM Sicola carried Captain Hartley to the wardroom where he was given medical attention by Johnson, PhM 1/C and Mallchock, PhM 3/C. At 1030 Lieutenant Commander Hartley died from the injuries. His body was taken from the ship at 1820 and taken to Bermuda.

Submitted by Dan Cooley

  Kenneth J. Hartley was born in Jamestown, NY. 1912, and went to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. and graduated in the Class of 1933. After graduation he went into the Naval Reserves in Dunkirk, NY. At that time he was involved in the family furniture finishing factory in Jamestown, NY where he lived. I think that he was called up to the regular Navy in 1940. Captain Hartleys had prior commands on, USYP 52, USYP 47,and the USS PC496, USS Might, before assuming command of the USS Brough His Wife Mary Sands Hartleynever remarried and is still alive, along with two daughters: Sue Hartley Angell, and Sabina Hartley Duke.

(This information was received by eMail from Sabina Duke to John Adriani on Aug, 9 2005)