Cartlidge | Christopher William
Biography
Christopher William Cartlidge’s parents were John Thomas Cartlidge (1878) and Annie Young (1886). They married on 22-11-1914 in Rugby, Warwickshire and have 9 children.
Christopher was born on 09-02-1919 in Long Lawford and was the 5th child in line. The family lived at 5 The Green, Long Lawford, Rugby, Warwickshire. Long Lawford is a small town near Rugby in the English county of Warwickshire. The town of Rugby gave its name to the sport of rugby.
Three children in the family died before their 1st birthday, and a younger brother of Christopher’s suddenly ran into the road at the age of 3 while playing and collided with a lorry. He died a few days later in Rugby hospital. Christopher was then 8 years old.
Christopher was a truck driver before he enlisted in the army. He became a Gunner in the 91st (5th Bn. The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) Anti-Tank Regiment. This regiment served under VIII Corps RA and had four batteries: 144-145-146 and 344. In early December 1944, the Regiment was “disbanded”. Battery 144 and 146 are added to the 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment (Batteries: 249-250-251 and 252), replacing battery 250 and 252. Battery 145 and 344 are moved together with batteries 250 and 252 to Renaix (Ronse) in Belgium.
The 5th Battalion A&S Highlanders landed in September 1939 as part of the BEF. They took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in June 1940. After the withdrawal from France, they were transformed into the 91st Anti Tank Regiment. They went into action and took part in the Normandy landings in June 1944 and fought throughout north-western Europe as far as the River Elbe.
As the 91st Anti Tank Regiment was part of VIII Corps, they fought in a supporting role during Operation Market Garden on the eastern flank of XXX Corps with XII Corps to the west of XXX Corps, capturing the Dutch towns of Deurne and Helmond and participating in the advance to Venray and Venlo, where the latter towns were liberated in late October 1944.
For Christopher, fate struck on Friday 10-11-1944. The war diary of the 91st Regiment, Battery 344 describes how Christopher died. From 5 to 10 November 1944, it describes the area (approximately) near the railway line between Overloon, Stevensbeek, Sambeek and Vierlingsbeek. While guiding a water truck on 10 November, Christopher is hit by sharp enemy artillery fire at about 12:00 in area 7536 (Sambeekse Heide). He is buried at the Maria Regina Monastery in Stevensbeek. Christopher is one of 17 fallen soldiers who were temporarily buried here.
In 1947, Christopher is given his final grave at Overloon British War Cemetery.
Christopher is also mentioned on the Long Lawford War Memorial. A World War I memorial cross in Long Lawford (St John’s Chapel) cemetery.
Anneke Bouten visiting Christopher’s grave (name to be confirmed)
War Memorial Long Lawford
War Memorial Christopher Cartlidge
