Frederick William CARTMAN

22 January 1915

SKIPTON CRICKET CLUB AND THE ROLL OF HONOUR

(To the Editor of the Pioneer)

Sir, It will interest your readers to know that the committee of the above club have resolved to place a 'Roll of Honour' in the pavilion at Sandylands to those playing members of the club who are serving with the colours. Out of the regular playing members of the three teams, no less than 17 are doing their 'bit' for our country. We append the names enrolled up to date:- Tom Cartman, Fred Cartman, D.F. Peacock, A. Hall, R.G. Billows, M. Windle, C. Pritchard, F. Clarkson, E. Smith, T. Brookes, H. Anslow, R. Borrisso, A. Hodgson, H. Cockcroft, R. Cumberland, A. Wear, G. Broughton. In addition, we have our 'old' cricketers in Major E. Dewhurst and Capt. C.P. Charlesworth, also serving in their respective capacities.

Yours truly, FRED FURNESS, S.F. GUNNELL, Hon. Secretaries.

11 June 1915

CARTMAN - June 5th, somewhere in France, aged 26, Private Fred Cartman of Skipton.

11 June 1915

POPULAR SKIPTON CRICKETER KILLED - "Called Away to a Far Better Land Than This"

It is with regret that we record the death of another Skipton Territorial in the person of Private Fred Cartman of the 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cartman of Thornton Street, Broughton Road, Skipton. News was received last week that he had been wounded in the chest, in a letter dated May 31st from the platoon officer, Lieut. E.J.C. Supple, which was as follows:- "It is my painful duty to have to inform you that your son, of my platoon, was wounded 20 minutes ago, i.e. 12.30pm. The bullet struck him on the right side of his chest and came out below his right armpit. He was out with a party under another officer at the time, working under good cover, whilst attending to a pump. To make his work easier, but unfortunately not safer, he stood up and exposed himself. Stretcher-bearers got to him at once and took him down to the doctor, whose report I am anxiously awaiting. He will be sent to the hospital in course of time, so I shall lose touch with him, but I will be greatly obliged if you will let me know how he is going on. I most sincerely trust he will make a speedy recovery."

Later, Mrs. Cartman received a postcard stating that her son was progressing as favourably as could be expected under the circumstances, but on Tuesday morning she received the sad news that he had passed away, in a letter dated June 5th, from Lieut. R.C. Barrett, which stated:- "I am afraid I am the bearer of bad news. Your son, Fred, passed away today in a village near here. I was speaking today to the men who had been looking after him, and they said he had done wonderfully, though they always thought the wound would prove fatal. He has been called away to a far better land than this, so we must not take it too hardly. May you be greatly comforted in your distress. Skipton has lost a fine fellow and a good soldier, and we all feel it very much. Fred died at 2.30pm today."

Charlie Fennerty, of the same regiment as Private Cartman, writes:- "You will no doubt have heard that Freddie was wounded some days ago whilst on a working party. I am very sorry to have to tell you, and we are all very sorry to hear that his wound has proved fatal. In spite of the fact that we heard a day or two ago that he was doing well and quite contented, he passed away today (June 5th). Freddie, as we called him, as very popular with all of us, and his cheerful spirits made him a general favourite. We wish to express our deepest sympathy with you in your sad bereavement. Yours sincerely, Charles Fennerty, on behalf of his many friends."

Private Cartman, who was 26 years of age, was buried on the same day as his death at the Military Burial Ground, Sailly.

He came of a well know family of sportsmen. His father for many years was a prominent Skipton Rugby player, and the unfortunate young fellow himself has for the past three seasons been a playing member of the Skipton Cricket Club. He was a most popular and promising young player, being a reliable and 'breezy' batman. In one of his last letters home he said that on Whit Monday and Tuesday he was thinking about the cricketers at Skipton and how grand it would be to be down on the Sandylands ground once more. His cheery manner won for him a great many friends, and the news of his death will be received with general regret by all who knew him. Prior to the war he was employed as a warp-dresser by Messrs. Stephenson of Broughton Road Shed, and enlisted in the Reserve Battalion shortly after the outbreak of hostilities.

02 July 1915

"ARE THEY ALL HAPPY AT SKIPTON?"

Skipton Soldier Meets Miss Lilian Dillingham in France

Writing to his father, Mr. Thos. Batchelor, of 51, Russell Street, Skipton, on June 14th, Private Herbert Batchelor, of the R.A.M.C., who is serving in France, says:- "I was very sorry to hear that Freddie Cartman had been killed, but still we know we all can't come back and win the fight as well. ... I must tell you I had a stroke of good luck last Friday, June 11th. I met a Skipton lady here. It was like this. I went to a concert given by Miss Lena Ashwell's party, and who do you think was amongst them? Miss Lilian Dillingham. I said to Harry, who is my chum, 'That is Miss Dillingham, from Skipton.' He said, 'No it is not,' and I told him to wait until they gave their names out. The Colonel of the 27th Division was in the chair, and as soon as he said her name I nearly fell off my chair. Well you just ought to have heard her sing. She sang lovely, and when she had finished the 'boys' almost raised the roof off for an encore. She gave us another song, and when she had finished and was bowing to the 'boys' I shouted out 'Are they all happy at Skipton?' Well that did it. She put her hands together with a clasp, turned round to Miss Ashwell and the Colonel and said something to them. Then she turned round again, and asked if there was 'anyone from Skipton here?' so I stood up in my place nearly at the back of the hall, and said 'Yes,' and sat down again. When the concert was over, the Colonel remarked: 'Is that lad still here who comes from Skipton,' and I replied, 'Yes sir.' 'Well,' he said, 'Miss Dillingham wishes to have a few words with you if you will come this way.' Well, she did not half shake me by the hand, and said how glad she was to meet someone from Skipton. She took my address and said she would call and see you in six weeks' time, and tell you how she found me. I was glad to speak to her, for she is the first person from Skipton I have met since I came to France."

Miss Dillingham has written to Mrs. Batchelor saying she was delighted to meet her son, who was looking splendidly. It was quite exciting at the concert.

24 December 1915

CRAVEN'S ROLL OF HONOUR - SKIPTON

Pte. Fred Cartman, 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cartman, of Thornton Street, Skipton, died from wounds received on May 31st. Twenty-six years of age, and a playing member of the Skipton Cricket Club and employed, before enlisting, at the Broughton Road Shed.