Robert John Cardwell was the son of Alexander and Mary Cardwell. He was born on 28th July 1917. The family lived at Gortfad, Sandholes, Cookstown. Prior to enlistment Robert Cardwell worked on the family farm at Gortfad Glebe, Sandholes. Sapper Robert John Cardwell was serving with No 2 Field Company of the Royal Engineers when he was killed in action on 9th December 1941 at El Alamein in Egypt.
Further Information
Robert John Cardwell was the son of Alexander and Mary Cardwell.
Robert John Cardwell was born on 28th July 1917. The family lived at Gortfad, Sandholes, Cookstown.
Known family: Alexander Cardwell, Mary Cardwell, Robert John Cardwell (born about 1918), Francis Cardwell, Harry Cardwell, Joseph Cardwell, William Cardwell, Greta Cardwell.
Prior to enlistment Robert Cardwell worked on the family farm at Gortfad Glebe, Sandholes.
Robert Cardwell served with the Royal Engineers in World War Two.
The following is a letter dated 4th December 1941 which he sent from North Africa:
Dear Mother, Just a few lines hoping to find you all well as I am keeping well myself. I had two papers and a postcard last week. I haven’t had a letter for 4 weeks now. I haven’t been able to write many letters lately, so don’t worry if you have to wait a few weeks. The weather is colder now and there has been a lot of rain, there hasn’t been any sand storms lately. Have you been down to Lislea lately, how is everyone there, does Harry like to serve in the R.A.F. Does Mrs. Boyd come down often. This is all for the present, so I wish you all a happy Christmas and new year. Best of luck, From Robert John.
(Reference in letter to Harry, his brother, also reference to Mrs. Boyd, his father’s cousin.)
Sapper Robert John Cardwell was serving with No 2 Field Company of the Royal Engineers when he was killed in action on 9th December 1941 at El Alamein in Egypt.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 20th February 1943:
Mr and Mrs Cardwell, of Gortfad Glebe, has received information that their son, Sapper Robert J Cardwell, died of wounds in the Middle East in December 1941. Up till they received this information, they believed he was a prisoner. Letters of sympathy have been received from Their Majesties, the King and Queen, from the War Office, and from the Dowager Lady Amphill, on behalf of the British Red Cross Society. He was the eldest son and joined up six years ago when he was in his eighteenth year.
His brother Harry Cardwell served with the R.A.F. His brother William Cardwell served with the R.U.C. His sister Greta served with Queen Alexandra’s Royal Nursing Corps during the Second World War.
Sapper Robert J Cardwell has no known grave and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.
Sapper Robert J Cardwell is commemorated locally on Cookstown War Memorial.
The CWGC record Sapper Robert John Cardwell as the son of Alexander and Mary Cardwell of Sandholes, County Tyrone.
