Private George Cartwright

Service number	726
Birth Date	1894-12-09
Birth Place	United Kingdom: England, Greater London, South Kensington
Death Date	1978-02-02
Final Rank	Private
Service	Australian Imperial Force
Unit	33rd Australian Infantry Battalion
Place	South Kensington
Conflict/Operation	First World War, 1914-1918
Gazettes	Biographical information They dared mightily. in 1963 Published in London Gazette in 1918-12-14 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-05-23

Description

George Cartwright (1894-1978) was born in London and later came to Australia. He worked as a labourer near Inverell, New South Wales, before enlisting in December 1915. His battalion went to France in November 1916, and the following year he was wounded while taking part in its first major battle; he was also gassed in early 1918. At Road Wood, south-west of Bouchavesnes near Péronne, as the 3rd Division sought to secure the north of the Somme River, Cartwright attacked an enemy machine-gun post that was holding up the advance. "His gallant deed had a most inspiring effect on the whole line, which immediately rushed forward."

Cartwright was badly wounded a few weeks later and returned to Australia, where he settled in Sydney. He served as a training officer in the Second World War.

Collection items

Rolls

Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Unit

33rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Private
Honours and Awards:

Unit

33rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Private

London Gazette

14 December 1918 on page 14779 at position 2

Commonwealth Gazette

23 May 1919 on page 886 at position 2
First World War Nominal Roll:

Unit

33rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Private
First World War Embarkation Roll:

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Private

Timeline

Date of birth	09 December 1894
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)	1915-12
Date of enlistment	19 December 1915
Date of embarkation	04 May 1916
Date wounded	1917-06
Date wounded	1918-04	Gassed.
Date of honour or award	31 August 1918	Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Rood Wood, south west of Bouchavesnes, near Peronne, France whilst serving with 33 Battalion, 9 Brigade, 3 Division as a Private.
Date wounded	1918-09
Date of recommendation honour or award	07 September 1918
Date returned to Australia	1919-03
Date returned to Australia	31 March 1919
Date of discharge	1919-07	Continued his involvement with the military through the Citizen Military Forces.
Date promoted	1939-10	Promoted to temporary captain.
Date of death	02 February 1978