GEORGE ERIC CARDEW M.C.
Captain - Devonshire Regiment

Killed in action
9th April 1918

George Eric Cardew would have been well known to the people of Cullompton prior to the war but he did not come from the town, nor did he have a permanent home here.

Cardew was born in Lucknow, India on 30^th November 1887, the third son of Henry Masters Cardew and Beatrice Mary Cardew of The Birches, Churchdown, Gloucester. His parents spent much of their time abroad, his father being employed by Bengal States Railways. The young Cardew was educated at Charterhouse until the summer of 1906 and subsequently at Hertford College, Oxford where he obtained a BA degree. With his parents in India, he spent school holidays with Dr and Mrs Gidley, prominent figures in the town, at Heyford House, Cullompton (now the offices of Harris Fowler, Solicitors).

Cardew was a member of the Rifle Corps whilst at Charterhouse, being promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant on 12^th February 1906. The following year he took a commission in the 4^th  (Reserve) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1908. After leaving university, Cardew left England for Penang where he was employed by the Malay States Civil Service. His involvement with the military continued as he was attached to the Malay States Volunteer Rifles.

Cardew returned to England shortly after the outbreak of war, and took up his duties with the 4^th Devons in Exmouth on 26^th November 1914. In January 1915 he wrote to the War Office requesting that he be transferred to the 3^rd Battalion, a regular army unit, “with the definite object of offering myself for service at the front if possible.” His application was refused but he was invited to apply for his name to be added to the register for General Service. Presumably he took up this invitation as in July 1915 he arrived in France, a Lieutenant of the 4^th Devons attached to the 6^th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry.

The beginning of 1916 found the 6^th Durhams in the Ypres Salient, near Sanctuary Wood. On 17^th January 1916 the British artillery bombardment was heavy, and the German retaliation was fierce. The battalion war diary states that Cardew, now promoted to Captain, was wounded in the arm and that “Captain E White MO [Medical Officer] gallantly ran through terrible shell fire to dress him”. Captain White was recommended for a gallantry award as a result of his actions to save Cardew.

Cardew would probably have been taken to an advanced dressing station about 2,000 yards from the front line, thence to a main dressing station or casualty clearing station about 2½ miles from the front line before arriving at the hospital in Boulogne. His wounds must have been considered serious, as he did not leave Boulogne until 22^nd February 1916. On the following day he arrived in Southampton aboard the St Patrick. 

On 18^th April 1916 Cardew attended a medical board. The board reported that “he was struck by a fragment of high explosive shell which inflicted a wound 6” x 4” on the posterior and in the aspect of the right forearm and produced a very severe commuted fracture of the ulna – one piece of the shaft longer than 1½ long being detached and a considerable gap consequently left – four small pieces of bone have since been removed. The wound has contracted considerably and is slowly healing. Movements of the forearm and hand limited. Bone not united yet.”

On 25^th August 1916 Cardew again attended a medical board. The board reported that “there is an absence of some 3 inches of the shaft of the ulna and it is proposed to fill the gap by “bone grafting” as the right arm is useless as it is.” The operation was later cancelled when progress was observed. By February 1917 Cardew was considered fit for light duty.

By 13^th June 1917, some eighteen months after he was wounded, the board reported that “The wound has well healed. There is complete loss of the right ulna for about two inches and a very large scar with loss of muscle. The arm is generally very useful but the Board do not consider the limb strong enough for General Service in the Front Line.” Cardew was therefore considered to be “Unfit permanently”.

Three days later Cardew wrote to his commanding officer requesting that he be considered for “an appointment at one of the Infantry Base Depots in France or for any appointment in France that is open to officers unfit for general service.” At this time he was attached to the 16^th Worcestershire Regiment in Swindon.

What happened over the next three months is not known, but Captain Cardew was far from content to remain on light duties at home. By 24 October 1917 the medical board found that he had “now recovered sufficiently and is fit for General Service – function and power remarkably good – states has has, since wounded, been successful as a rifle shot and can handle a lewis gun. Directed to return to his unit as Lark Hill for duty forthwith. Permanent disability under 20%.”

Cardew returned to the 6^th Durhams. In January 1918 he supervised the first concert given by the battalion concert party, the Red Diamonds.

But the merriment was not to last. On 23^rd March 1918 the battalion found themselves occupying the Cardigny line. According to the battalion war diary they were “ambushed in Le Mesnil village but owing to successful rear-guard action by Capt Aubin, MC, and Capt Cardew the battalion escaped with very light casualties.” 

For this and a later action Cardew was awarded the Military Cross. The citation appeared in the Supplement to the London Gazette and reads: 

“Capt George Eric Cardew Devon R.

For Conspicious Gallantry and devotion to duty. When 3 companies were scattered in the marshes by an ambush surprise, this officer collected the men and organised a rear-guard under heavy fire. He was the last man of the covering party of 50 men to cross the bridge, having held off the enemy with rapid rifle fire. A few days later [28^th March 1918] he was in charge of 3 companies which held the line while troops from the front passed through. When they had passed he organised a counter attack which re-established the left of the line, where he held on under heavy trench mortar fire until compelled to withdraw, the whole line having gone back.” 

Captain Cardew was never to receive his gallantry award. On 9^th April 1918 the battalion were in Estaires under heavy bombardment which began at 4am. The billet occupied by nearly all the officers was struck, killing Captain Aubin MC, Captain Kirkhouse, Lieutenant Colonel Tyerman, Lieutenant Scott and Second Lieutenant Shirtliff. The battalion moved out with only five officers to battle positions and were engaged in combat by about 9 am. The fighting continued all day before the battalion withdrew. Captain George Eric Cardew was killed in action. He was thirty years old. 

Of the officers of the 6^th Durhams killed that day, only Captain George Kirkhouse has a known grave. He was 23 years old. George Eric Cardew is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium, with his comrades, Captain Jehu Fosbrooke Gerrard Aubin, DSO, MC, aged 26, Lieutenant Cecil Laurence Tyerman aged 24, Lieutenant Douglas Brogden Scott, aged 25, and Second Lieutenant Fred Shirtliff, aged 23.  

Cardew is the most commemorated of those listed on a war memorial in Cullompton. He is also remembered on the war memorial in his home town of Churchdown in Gloucestershire, as well as on a magnificent stained glass window in the church and a scroll inside the church which lists those who served, and on the walls of the memorial chapel at Charterhouse school.