Lives of the First World War

known 27th May 1918

1/Worcestershire R. Copy of Capt Stevens' letter. Dear Mrs Cartland. I duly received your letter of the 27th August and have made as many enquiries as possible about your husband and am very sorry to have to inform you that as far as I can ascertain your husband was killed on the first morning of the Battle N. of the AISNE. I am unable to give you first hand information in view of the fact that Capt: Pratt the then Adjutant of the Battalion, came over from England some weeks previous to this and of course I naturally became his assistant and did not come into action till later on in the morning. I have first been speaking to the Brigade Intelligence Officer who states that Capt Pratt told him that Major J.B.F. Cartland was killed, I have no doubt by shell fire which was extremely heavy at the time - vide sentence underlined in the R.S.M's report. I do not think you can place any reliance at all in the sentence I have marked in by stars in attached statement the RSM knows nothing about the #2 being hit by a shell. I deeply regret that I have no more news but if is any other point you think I might be able to ascertain for you I will do my best if you will communicate with me Yours sincerely W Cecil Stevens

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