From the ‘Whitehaven News’ 30 January 1919:

DEATH OF A ST BEES SOLDIER IN MESOPOTAMIA

“Quite a sadness prevailed over St. Bees on Tuesday week when the parents of Private John W. Cartmel, Royal Highlanders, 2nd. Black Watch, received a cable from Alexandria saying their son was dangerously ill with influenza. Having no other news for a few days it was hoped he was rallying, but on Saturday evening the second cable arrived saying he died from pneumonia on Tuesday 21st. Pte. Cartmel, Rose Hill, St. Bees was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cartmel, and having joined the forces in May 1915, has seen a great deal of hard fighting. After his training in Scotland he was sent to France, where he was wounded on his return the second time to the Somme. After his recovery he went out to Mesopotamia, where he was again wounded, in the ankle. He was sent to a hospital in India and had returned to his Regiment once more in time to have seen more fighting and to be amongst the first on the great entry into Baghdad.”