Thomas Cartwright

Died of Wounds when a Prisoner of War (see additional information regarding date)

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 08/01/1916. They were part of the 101st Brigade, 34th Division. Thomas was originally in the 14th (Reserve) Battalion "D" Company. He was taken prisoner at Croisilles during the Battle of St. Quentin on the 21/03/1918 suffering from gunshot wounds to his right leg and upper thigh. He died on the 24/04/1918 in the Military Hospital of Mariste Cloiste at Perowitz and was buried in Bourcourt (Beaucourt) Cemetery (International Red Cross) (see Newspaper clipping). The CWGC and Thomas' grave state date of death as 29/04/1918. See Newspaper clipping from Red Cross and Thomas' Family Plot photos x 2 that state date as 24/04/1918. The Battle of St. Quentin was a phase of the First Battles of the Somme, 21st March - 5th April 1918 : After transferring very large forces from the now-collapsed Eastern Front, the German Army commits to a series of large-scale offensives. The first, Operation Michael, strikes the British Fifth and Third Armies. A deep advance is made and inflicts large losses. Operation Michael involved a vast attack along the whole front between the River Oise and the River Sensée . This area is generally known as "the Somme" sector, although geographically it includes the Cambrésis and the Santerre plateau. The entire area between the St-Quentin / Cambrai front line and the Bapaume / Albert area had been deliberately laid waste by the Germans when they withdrew from that area (in Operation Alberich) in spring 1917. The Bapaume / Albert area had been the site of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Thus, other than the area west of Albert and on to Amiens, this was in effect one endless area of devastation. The only significant geographical barriers to an advance were the River Somme south of Péronne and the Canal du Nord north of it (see photos for map of the area). Thomas' parents did not get confirmation of his death for 4 months. SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MARCH - APRIL 1918. Thomas was a regular attender of the Middle United Free Church where he was a Bible Class member and Office Bearer. Thomas was reburied in Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension, Hainaut, Belgium (see Reburial Form). I personally laid a Poppy Cross at Thomas' grave in 2008 (see photos). See photos for Thomas' Medal Index Card, his Headstone Report, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, Thomas' original burial place Beaucourt British Cemetery, his final resting place Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension and the Royal Scots Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for another one of Thomas' grave, Newspaper clippings x 7 (Coatbridge Express x 3, Coatbridge Leader x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2), the 34th Division Order of Battle x 15 (the Division who he was with when he died), Thomas' POW records from the International Committee of the Red Cross x 3 and PHOTOS x 29 FOR THE 34th DIVISION BOOK MARCH 1918.