CARTWRIGHT, Solomon

Solomon Cartwright was born in Cradley Heath and was the son of James Cartwright who lived later at 5 Council Houses, Drews Holloway, Cradley. He attended the nearby Colley Lane School. He enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment and was posted to the 2/4th Battalion in the 61st South Midland Division. In the Third Battle of Ypres they were ordered to the trenches near St. Julien on the 20th August. The position was alongside the Steenbeek and the fighting was for control of the nearby fortified farms and block-houses, 'Pommern Castle' and Aisne Farm. It was the worst kind of trench warfare and the battalions alternated in the trenches. It was in one of these attacks on the 27th August that Private Solomon Cartwright was killed in action. He was 22 years of age and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot, Cradley, Halesowen, Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.