Ned Cartwright

NED CARTWRIGHT

Private 16/1572, 16th Battalion West Riding Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)

Died 27th February 1917 aged 38

No Known Grave Commemorated Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

Husband of Ada Cartwright

Lived 21, Regent Street, Heckmondwike

Ned was born on the 10th April 1878 in Heckmondwike, and baptised on the 6th July 1879 at St Stephen’s Church, Lindley, the son of Edwin Cartwright, a Heckmondwike Tripe Dresser and Catherine Eliza Brear who had married at Birstall Parish Church in 1874, both having been previously widowed.

Ned was 19 years old and living at Northgate, Heckmondwike and working as a Mattress Maker, when he married Ada Styles of Queen Street, Heckmondwike on 12th February 1898 at St Peter’s Parish Church in Birstall. Their son Horace Cartwright was born on 22nd August 1899. By 1901 they were living at 6, Barber Square, Heckmondwike, close to his father Edwin, who had become a Fish Merchant. Ned and Ada’s family continued to expand when children Agnes, Lucy, Elsie and Jack arrived. Times must have been tough in 1908, when working as an Upholsterer, he was convicted of non payment of the Poor Rates, but with the threat of 14 days in Wakefield prison his fine was paid on the same day. By 1911 they had moved to 1, Carr Street, Littletown, Liversedge and Ned was working as a Fish Fryer, remaining at this address until at least 1915.

The Heckmondwike Herald & Courier reported in July 1916, on various anonymous and difficult cases that were brought before a full days sitting of the Spenborough Military Tribunal held in Cleckheaton Town Hall. The applications were from shopkeepers and businessmen who were finding it difficult to volunteer for the services because they were needed to run their business. In one such case, “the proprietor of a Liversedge fried fish restaurant said he provided 2,000 meals per week. He would be willing to take up work in a factory. The claim was disallowed, but he was given an extension of time to August 31st to make arrangements”.

Ned Cartwright’s war record is lost but it is known that he enlisted in Bradford as a Private in the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) joining the 16th Battalion (1st Bradford). They were known as the Bradford Pals and were engaged against the Germans at Rossignol Wood near Hebuterne as part of the 93rd Brigade, 31st Division in February 1917. Ned was officially presumed dead on or after 27th February 1917. No newspaper announcement has yet been found. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier & Face 2A, 2C & 2D) as the son of Mr & Mrs Edward Cartwright of Heckmondwike and the husband of Mrs Ada Milner (formerly Cartwright) of 21, Regent Street, Heckmondwike.{KH-025}

Commemorated: Green Park Memorial & Vellum Roll; St Saviour’s Church and St James’ Church War Memorials

Medals: Victory and British.

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