CARTWRIGHT, Henry

Henry Cartwright was the son of Mr A. Cartwright of 2 Bank Street, Wollescote, and attended Valley Road school, Lye. He volunteered for the Worcesters but was later transferred to the 8th Battalion of the Berkshires. They suffered severely in the German Spring offensive of March and were driven back to Amiens. At one point they could only muster 50 men. After receiving reinforcements they joined the first attack of the recovery on the 8th August, the 'black day' of the German army. This success led to the remarkable Advance to Victory starting on the 21st August. The Berkshires soon captured the large village of Combles on the old Somme battle-field with relatively few losses. Private Henry Cartwright, however, was wounded on the 1st September and died at a Casualty Clearing Station on the 5th. He was 31 years of age and is buried at Mericourt l'Abbé Communal Cemetery (III H 2) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Valley Road school Memorials.