CARTLIDGE, Alfred

[Studlea]

CARTLIDGE, Alfred

Private Alfred Cartlidge, born Liverpool 1880, signed up July 1915.

Died 20^th September at Passendaele. King's (Liverpool Regiment) 7th Battalion Number: 269746.

If anyone can shed light on his service this would be wonderful.

Thanks

[Peter J]

Hello Studlea,

A very quick search doesn't seem to reveal too much more than what you already seem to know. Ancestry has details of Alfred's medals (BWM & VM) shown on his MIC.

There is mention of him in 'Soldiers Died in the Great War', though it erroneously has his Army number as 369746 as opposed to 269746, though this is not really a problem - his MIC shows the correct number.

There seems to be no surviving Army Service Records in his name, unfortunately.

Have you looked at these? May be somewhere to start:

http://www.1914-1918.net/kings.htm

http://eprints.worc.ac.uk/384/

http://www.liverpoolregt.co.uk/1.7%20master.html

http://www.ww1photos.com/KingsLiverpoolRegt.html

[sotonmate]

Studlea

Your man has a number which was issued in 1917 to the 7th King's Liverpool. As I see it he was a new soldier at that time,as existing Territorial Force soldiers were re-numbered,and new entrants given a number, in a block containing 269716. He likely would not have had much service at the front. He could have been either 1/7 Battalion (with 55 Division) or 2/7 Battalion (57 Division).Given that he was killed in action on 20 Sept 1917 I believe that he was at the first day (20-23 Sept 1917) of the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge with 1/7(55 Division). This was a few weeks before the series of battles called Passchendaele.

War Diary for 1/7 King's Liverpool is at the National Archives under WO95/2927, unfortunately it is not digital as yet,so you would have to read it in situ at Kew or see if anyone has a copy or access to it.

I have found no service record for this soldier,but see from Soldiers Died in the Great War that he was born,lived,and enlisted in Liverpool.

Sotonmate

[Studlea]

Dear Peter J & Sotonmate,

Thank you both so much for taking the time to look into this.

I did find the sign up (TF / Ancestry Pension records) papers for my Great Grandad Alf, and have a tale to tell about his widow and 7 children and how they got by after his death, but I feel, the greater part of this mans story was before the war service rather than during, and the better part of how his widow & children made their way.

Thank you both again.

[Peter J]

Studlea,

My pleasure, and wishing you all the best with your research.

Regards,

PJ

[SWorrall]

There's also a copy of the Battalion war diary currently held at Liverpool Maritime Museum, whilst the Museum of Liverpool is being refurbished.

Simon.