CARTWRIGHT, James

James Cartwright was born in Quarry Bank and was the son of Mr F Cartwright of 6 Bell Street, Brierley Hill. He served in the 3rd Battalion of the Worcesters and was possibly a pre-war regular soldier stationed in August 1914 at Aldershot in the British Expeditionary Force. They mobilised at the outbreak of war and by the 23rd August were at Mons. Then followed the 10 day retreat over 150 miles to the Marne. After halting the enemy in the critical manoeuvre on the Marne they moved to Artois and Ploegsteert Wood. They fought in the First Spring battle in March when they successfully held Spanbroek Mill on the Messines Ridge. They moved to Ypres for the second Battle of Ypres and on the 16th June attacked the key point of the Bellewaerde Ridge. Enemy artillery was too strong and they suffered severely. They returned to Ploegsteert and had just reached the familiar ground of Prowse Point when Private James Cartwright was killed in action on the 12th November. He is buried at Prowse Point Cemetery (I A 1) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill, Lye and Wollescote and Brierley Hill church Memorials.