CARTWRIGHT, John Joseph

Joseph Cartwright was the son of Elijah and Jane Cartwright of 4 Court, 2 House, Stourbridge Road, Harts Hill, Brierley Hill. He was an early volunteer for the South Staffords and went to the 7th (Service) Battalion. They were ordered to Gallipoli to break the stalemate on the peninsula. They reached Cape Helles in July and prepared for new landings at Suvla Bay. The Staffords were the first to land on the 6th August and surprise was effective in achieving a safe landing. However, the attempt to reach the Gallipoli ridge three days later led to a serious defeat. The Turks were in well prepared defences and the Staffords were affected by the hot climate and illness. Over four hundred men were casualties and retreat to the beaches followed. On the 21st another attack was mounted and completely wrecked by Turkish shelling. Stalemate and trench warfare ensued among the gullies and ravines. On the 25th November exceptionally heavy storms hit the peninsula, followed by frost and snow. Many men died in consequence and among them was Private John Cartwright. He was 22 years of age and is buried in Hill 10 Cemetery (II G 2) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill, Dudley, Woodside and Brierley Hill church Memorials.