Correctly named 5491 Pte J Cartwright S Lanc Regt
James was born to William and Mary in Wolverhampton in 1880.
We find him living at 2 Brookfield Buildings in Atherton, Lancashire in 1891.
He attested to the South Lancashire Regiment in February 1898 where he states he is already serving in the Militia, 3rd Battalion North Lancashire Regiment.
He is reported absent declared deserter in October 1898 and he is seen to rejoin in 1899 where he is awaiting trial by Courts Martial for desertion. He is sentenced to 84 days in prison.
He is seen to head to South Africa in November 1899 and here he earns his Queens and Kings South Africa Medals. His Queens South Africa Medal would have the clasps, Orange Free State, Transvall, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith and Laings Nek. Alas, these medals are no longer together.
He leaves South Africa in May 1902 for India until February 1907 when we he see he serves at home until August 1914. Though in 1911, we see he has occupation noted as bricksetters labourer.
He married Thomasine Walker in 1904. We see in 1911, his address is given as his Father in laws house at 12 Stirrup Brook, Boothstown, Lancashire.
He heads off to France with the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment on the 8th of September 1914 when he landed at Le Havre. This entitles him to a 1914 Star Trio with clasp and roses. (again, these medals are not present)
It is noted that he is reported missing on the 24th of October 1914 but is later found and to have been shot through the left shoulder on or around the 22nd of October 1914. The Battalion were fighting at the First Battle of Ypres at that time, the Battle of La Bassee is a possibility. He is returned to the UK and later discharged from service in November 1915 as time served.
His address at this time is given as 14 Church Lane, Nowton, Newton Le Willows, Lancashire.
James re-enlists, this time into the 3rd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment in July 1916. Previous service accrued totalled 17 years. He now has the service number 29552. He has given his trade now as a butcher. He is sent to the Mediterranean theatre where he arrives in October 1916 with the 9th Service Battalion.
He is next sent back to France in June 1917. He transfers to the 752 Area Employment Labour Corps with the new service number 374187.
In the following April, he is seen to be serving with the Chinese Labour Corps. He stays with these until September 1918 when a report show him wounded but no further details. He then transfers to 5o Company Labour Corps. He transfers later to the NCLB and is discharged from service on the 13th of February 1919. His army career is littered with charges such as, desertion, absence, failing to appear at parades, breaking out of barracks, willful injury and damage to equipment.
In 1921, he is seen to still be living at 14 Church Lane and again working as a bricksetters labourer.
His wife Thomasine is seen at the same address in 1939 but not James.
