Richard William & Arthur John Cartman – 6 Elm Street

In 1911 6 Elm Street had 7 rooms; a large property compared to others in the vicinity. Richard William, an errand boy for at a dyer’s aged 16 years, and Arthur John, an errand boy for a fishmonger aged 15 years, were living there with their aunt, a widow of 72 years. Their father, Richard a labourer at that time but formerly a mechanic was living there too but although he is recorded as ‘married’ his wife, Clara, is not listed. This may simply be an omission because she cannot be found anywhere else (including death records).
Richard and Clara (née Coulson) had married in 1893. She was born in Stamford and he came from Ruskington, north of Sleaford but they first lived in Mansfield where both of the boys were born. By 1901 the family were boarding at 5 Wellington Lane in Stamford so the boys probably went to school in the town. They were still in Stamford in early 1916 although their father had died in 1913 but they were both to return to Nottinghamshire before the end of the war perhaps when their mother re-married later in 1916.

Richard William (probably known as William)

All that is known of his military record is that he was a Private in the 4th Lincolnshire Territorials by 1916. He must have served abroad in a theatre of war as he was awarded the British and Victory medals.

When he was in his early 20s he married Laurina S Lambley in 1917 in Nottingham. They had 3 sons and 5 daughters all in the Nottingham area where he died in 1955.

Arthur John

He also joined the 4th Lincs as a Private. It is likely that he was the Arthur J Cartman who is listed in the Medal Rolls for the British and Victory medals having later served in the RAF.

In 1918 he married Ellen Mills in Nottingham and they had one daughter. He died in 1980.