Private 306813

2^nd. Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derby)

Died Friday 27^th April 1917 aged 22.

Grave ref. Pier and Face 10 C 10 D 11 A. Thiepval Memorial Somme, France.

Horace was born in Ironville, Derbyshire, son of Charles Wood  & Isabella Cartledge, one time residents of both Franklin and Laverick Road and later of Wagstaff Lane, Jacksdale. On the 1915 electoral roll,  Charles Wood Cartledge is listed at Dixie Street.  His father, Charles was a keen member of the Jacksdale Hospital Committee  organising fund raising events in aid of local hospitals. The 1901 Census, records the family living at Laverick Road, Jacksdale, as follows:- Charles (aged 42 years), Isabella (aged 36 years), Samuel (16), Henry (15), Archibald and Reginald (twins aged 11 years), Charles (9) and young Horace (7). 

Horace was an ex-employee of the Underwood Co-Operative Stores. He enlisted at Eastwood, Notts, prior to 1916 as we know he served with The Sherwood's during The Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916, when British Troops were drafted in to quell the Rebellion.  On Friday 27th April 1917, only one year after his tour of duty in Ireland, Horace was killed in action during the attack at Hargicourt, France, aged 22 years. His friend,  Private Harold Cheetham, serving in the same regiment and listed on the Jacksdale Memorial as having served,  informed Horace’s parents that  Horace had been shot through the temple and died instantaneously.  

As a member of St Mary’s Church Choir, a Sunday School Teacher and a well known local footballer, he would, surely,  have been a very good friend to 37412 Private Leslie Lemon, who shared common interests and was killed only a few days earlier on 9^th April 1917, also aged 22 years. 

Horace is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, which bears the names of 72, 000 officers and men who have no known grave. 

Horace is listed on the Jacksdale Memorial, the Jacksdale Memorial Unveiling Roll of Honour, and also on more than one occasion in the local press as ‘Cartledge’.  However, he is listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Site, in the Sherwood Foresters Roll and on The Soldiers Died CD as ‘Cartlidge.’ 

A newspaper article dated 7^th May 1909,  records the tragic death of Horace’s brother, Reginald, due to an accident at the Butterley Company Wagon Works, six weeks prior.  The newspaper states that “he made such progress, that high hopes were entertained for his recovery” but sadly Reginald lapsed into unconsciousness and due to his weakening state was unable to prepare himself for a further operation.  Reginald was highly respected by all who knew him and the sad news caused “ a widespread wave of sympathy in the district”.  “His twin brother, Archie, was so overcome by the shock when he heard that his brother had passed away that he fell down in a faint, and had to be attended to by his work mates”.  A tragic and sad reminder of the harsh and dangerous conditions endured by the working classes in the ‘battlefield’ of industry. 

The 1915 Census lists two other Cartledge’s, namely, Henry (senior) of Laverick Road, Jacksdale and  Percy Cartledge of York Avenue, Jacksdale. Any information to indicate whether they were related would be welcomed.