4196147 John Edward Cartwright 2RWF WW2

Hi Everyone,
I am new to the Royal Welch Fuselier's site. I am researching my Paternal family CARTWRIGHT. My father John Edward Cartwright served in W.W. 2. in the Royal Welch Fuseliers. My father passed away in 1988, and like many others who saw active service in the war talked very little about his war years.
He was conscripted in 1939 at the age of 21, and as far as I know served in Madagascar, India and Burma. I believe he did not return home after his training until 1946.
His Army number was 4196147 Fuselier Cartwright J E. In Burma he was in the Fourteenth army and during his time there suffered from Pneumonia, Pleurosy and Malaria and was susceptible to chest infections and pneumonia during the rest of his life. I would be most grateful for any information on how to find more information about his time in the Royal Welch Fuseliers.
Regards Crtwrs

A warm welcome Crtwrs,

Your father would have been a member of the 2nd Battalion. They sailed from the Clyde on the 24th March 1942 aboard HMS Karanji, as part of 29 Brigade Group. A mixture of infantry and commando's, all the units trained in seaborne operations. They were to carry out the capture of Madagascar which would involve an expected "Opposed" landing from the sea..

Ok a couple of books worth looking at. Firstly "The Red Dragon" by PK Kemp & John Graves. It covers the RWF in WW2 and specifically all the operations that the 2nd Bn conducted.

Next, you might enjoy "The life and times of General Hughie Stockwell" By Jon Riley. Stockwell was your fathers Commanding Officer during the Madagascar operation, and later was his Brigade Commander in Burma, so lots of detail in there, and its a good read.

You need to apply for his service record: http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_...e_records.html We can assist in making sense of some of the detail you find.

Regarding his illnesses, Madagascar had a profound effect on many of the veterans long-term health. 9/10ths of 29 Brigade contracted Malaria during the operation. At the end of the task, the brigade was classed as "Unfit" for the following 3 months. Although that may also have been a saviour, as they missed the Arakan Campaign in Burma, which was particularly bloody. The 1st Bn took part in in it and had a hard lesson in jungle fighting. One of the big strengths of the 2nd Bn was unit cohesion and the fact that the men had served together for so long, some since pre-war India. They had not taken the huge losses at the commencement of the war, unlike the 1st Bn who were decimated at Dunkirk and then had to be reconstituted. This was to prove a strong asset in the 2nd Bn's later actions against the Japanese along "Railway Corridor" in Burma.

Finally, we still have a 2nd Bn veteran amongst us. Cpl Ted Price fought at Madagascar and then in Burma and is an active member of the RWF Comrades Branch at Welshpool. Your father, as a long serving member of the battalion would have certainly known him, I attach a report of an action Ted undertook in Burma with the 2nd Bn, that resulted in him being awarded the MM

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Many Thanks ap1 for your reply it is most appreciated. I will apply for my father's war record. My father did mention he had been sent to Scotland for training. My Nain also told me many years ago before her death in 1982 that he was in North Africa serving in 1940 and was brought back sometime after Dunkirk to the South Coast in case of invasion. My father was a Despatch Rider for part of his service in the Jungle fighting the Japanese.
Many Thanks crtwrs

Many thanks for the contribution, its gratefully received. You now have access to The Vault. If you search through, there will be a few items from that period.
We did have the War Diary for the Madagascar Landing, but sadly lost it, during a server virus a few years ago. Obtaining another copy is problematic…Work in Progress.

http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/con...?149-The-Vault