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Private George Cartwright

Unit: 33rd Battalion, 9th Brigade, 3rd Division
Action: 31 August 1918, Rood Wood, southwest of Bouchavesnes, near Peronne, France

Eight Australians were awarded Victoria Crosses in the capture of Mont St Quentin and Peronne. The first went to 23-year-old Cartwright.

The citation says: "When two companies were held up by machine-gun fire, from the southwestern edge of the wood, without hesitation, Private Cartwright moved against the gun in a most deliberate manner under intense fire. He shot three of the team, and, having bombed the post, captured the gun and nine enemy. This gallant deed had a most inspiring effect on the whole line, which immediately rushed forward. Throughout the operation Private Cartwright displayed wonderful dash, grim determination, and courage of the highest order.''

Biography: Cartwright was born in London on 9 December 1894 but migrated to Australia as a young man and was living near Inverell when he enlisted in December 1915. He arrived in France in November 1916. He was wounded at Messines in June 1917, gassed in April 1918 and was shipped to Britain in September 1918 when he was wounded again. He returned to Australia the following year and was discharged from the AIF, although he continued to serve with the Citizen Military Force. During World War II, he was promoted to captain and was stationed at various training centres.

He lived in Epping, NSW, and married in 1921. The couple had two children before they divorced and Cartwright remarried in 1948. The machine-gun he captured at Peronne is on display at the Australian War Memorial. He died 2 February 1978 and is commemorated by a plaque in the NSW Garden of Remembrance at Rookwood.