Private 31625 Thomas Henry Cartwright

Killed in Action Mesopotamia on Saturday, 10th February 1917, age 37.
Commemorated on Panel 17 of Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq.

7th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment. 39th Brigade of 13th Division.
Formerly 17760 7th Bn., North Staffordshire Regiment.

Husband of Mrs Hannah Cartwright, of 13 Drivers Row, Half Acres, Castleford, Yorkshire.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Castleford, Resident: Castleford.

First landed Balkans, 26th October 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial, but commemorated on the Castleford War Memorial.
Commemorated here because he was born in Tipton.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1656087/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Thomas Henry Cartwright registered June quarter 1879 in Dudley. Mother's maiden name was Bull.

Thomas Henry Cartwright was born on 28th April 1879 at Horseshoe Row, Tipton. His father was Benjamin Cartwright, a Coal Miner, and his mother Catherine Cartwright, née Bull. Within the next 2 years, the Cartwright family had moved to Dudley and that is the last known connection of Thomas Cartwright with Tipton.

1881 Census
48 Steppingstone Street, Dudley, Worcs.
Frederick Horton (30, Boiler Maker, born Brierley Hill), his nephew Benjamín Cartwright (24, Coal Miner, born Tipton), his wife Kate Cartwright (23, born Dudley), and their 3 children: Sophia (4, born Dudley), Thomas (2, born Dudley) and Benjamin (3 months, born Dudley).

1891 Census
Long Row, Glass Houghton, Castleford, Yorkshire.
In a 4-roomed house lived a total of 13 people. John Davis and his wife (both born Wolverhampton) and their 5 children, 2 other boarders, and Benjamin Cartwright, now widowed, and his 3 children.
Benjamin Cartwright (Widower, 35, Coal Miner, born Tipton) and his 3 children: Thomas (12, Scholar, born Tipton), Benjamin (10, born Dudley) and Frederick G. (7, born Dudley).

Marriage of Thomas Cartwright and Hannah Beardsmore registered in December quarter 1899 in Pontefract.

1901 Census
85 Regent Street, Castleford, Yorkshire.
Thomas Cartwright (23, Coal Hewer, born Tipton), his wife Hannah (21, born Castleford) and their son David (6 months, born Castleford). Also Frederick George Cartwright (Brother, 16, Pony Driver at Pit Bottom, born Tipton).

1911 Census
13 Drivers Row, Castleford, Yorkshire.
Thomas Cartwright (35, Coal Miner - Hewer, born Tipton), his wife Hannah (31, born Castleford) and their 5 children: David (10, School, born Castleford), Thomas (8, School, born Castleford), Ada (5, School, born Castleford), Elizabeth (2, born Castleford), and Kate (5 months, born Castleford). A further 2 children were born: John on 26th March 1912, and Frederick John on 19th November 1913.

Personal Data

After Thomas’s death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £6/5/7d (6 pounds, 5 shillings and 7 pence); in September 1918 this was paid as £5/1/7d (5 pounds, 1 shilling and 7 pence) to his widow Hannah, and 12/0d (12 shillings) each to his sons David and Thomas. His War Gratuity was £7/0/0d (7 pounds exactly), this was paid to his widow Hannah in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Thomas had enlisted in approximately July 1915.

Thomas’s widow, Hannah, was granted a Widow's Pension of of £1/13/9d (1 pound, 13 shillings and 9 pence) per week for herself and her 5 children under the age of 16, this was effective from 5th November 1917. Her address was given as 13 Drivers Row, Half Acres, Castleford. She also received a one-off Pension Grant of £5/0/0d on 14th June 1920.

Action resulting in his death

Thomas arrived on the Gallipoli peninsula on 26th October 1915, this may have been with his original unit, the 7th North Staffs. We do not know when he transferred to the 7th Gloucesters but it would probably have been after recovering from wounds or sickness. Sickness was very severe in October and November 1915 in Gallipoli due to the appalling conditions, with men dying from exposure.

After Gallipoli was abandoned, the 7th Gloucesters moved to Egypt and then to Mesopotamia, landing at Basra at the end of February 1916. They suffered from an outbreak of fever which delayed their involvement in the doomed relief of Kut-al-Amara – the garrison at Kut being forced to surrender on 29th April.

It was December 1916 before the advance along the Tigris towards Kut and, ultimately, Baghdad began. Slow progress was made following the course of the river towards Sannaiyat.

On 10th February, ‘A’ Company of the 7th Gloucesters took part in a major assault against Ottoman positions at the Khaiari Trench / Redoubt as part of the operations around the Liquorice Factory and the Dahra Bend of the River Tigris.

As the Gloucesters advanced, a dust storm blew up preventing the supporting artillery and machine gunners from seeing their targets. The company lost direction, but still continued to advance until within 50 yards of the Ottoman trenches, where the men were forced to dig in but withdrew after dark.

The Gloucesters suffered over 100 casualties, with 46 Other Ranks killed. This number included Thomas Cartwright who has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial.

Just 2 weeks later, on the 24th February, the Ottoman forces abandoned Kut. This allowed the advance towards Baghdad which was captured on 11th March.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.