Dec 28, 1891

Born in East Sooke, British Columbia to William and Mary (nee Finlay) Cartwright

Nov 27, 1917

Medical exam for the MSA (Military Service Act) of 1917 held at Victoria, British Columbia

Jan 3, 1918

Conscripted into the 2^nd Depot Battalion, BCR (British Columbia Regiment) under the MSA

Ø  Number 2137871

Ø  Next of kin given as Mary Cartwright, mother, 1023 Oliphant St., Victoria, British Columbia

Ø  Previous occupation given as Fisherman

Ø  No military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Protestant

Ø  Posted to the 6^th Regimental Draft

The battalion carried out training in the Willows Camp, Oak Bay, Victoria, British Columbia

Apr 9, 1918

the 6^th Regimental Draft embarked the SS Tunisian in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Apr 19, 1918

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the entire draft was absorbed into the 1^st Canadian Reserve Battalion to continue training

Prior to joining the reserve battalion however, the draft was placed in isolation to ensure that none of the members were suffering from influenza or other communicable diseases

May 2, 1918

After leaving the segregation camp, he joined the 1^st Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Jun 13, 1918

Admitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Measles

Jul 4, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 13, 1918

Transferred to the 29^th Battalion

Sep 14, 1918

Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Havre, France and Taken On Strength of the 29^th Battalion

Sep 16, 1918

After leaving the base depot, he joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France

Sep 19, 1918

While still at the reinforcement camp, and before he could join the 29^th Battalion at the front, he was transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 20, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Cartwright joined the 21^st Battalion’s rear details located west of Cagnicourt, France as part of a draft of 80 reinforcements and was posted to “A” Company.  The rest of the battalion was involved in fighting along the Arras – Cambrai Road

Dec 13, 1918

The 21^st Battalion led the 2^nd Division across the Bonn Bridge to enter Germany as part of the Occupying Force and proceeded to Seigburg

Apr 3, 1919

Embarked the Western Australia in Havre, France

On arrival in England, he was attached to “P” Wing in Witley pending return to Canada

May 12, 1919

Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool

May 22, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario by train

May 24, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 279876

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 3337 Burns Ave., Victoria, British Columbia

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 3337 Burns Ave., Victoria, British Columbia.  In 1961 a replacement Class “A” War Service Badge was issued number 204457

Apr 27, 1996

Thomas Joseph Cartwright died in the Laurel Lodge, Courtenay, British Columbia and was buried in the Hatley Memorial Gardens, Colwood, British Columbia