William Massey Cartwright was born on 22 October 1894 in Moore. His parents were James and Sarah Jane. He was baptised at the Wesleyan Methodist Church on 18 November 1894. He had two brothers – John Henry, b 1891, who was a chemist at a local soap works and Walter James, b1893, who was a grocer. The family lived at ‘Fern Bank’, where James was a boot and shoe maker.
The 1911 census records that Massey was apprenticed to a wheelwright.
There are very few details of his military service. He joined the Army Ordnance Corps, service number 15408. The role of the AOC was to be responsible for the supply and repair of weapons, armoured vehicles and other military equipment, ammunition and clothing. It also took on minor roles such as laundry, mobile baths and photography.
Massey returned to Moore and in 1920 married Vera de Prez. They had a son, Royston Henry born in 1924. In 1939 they were living at ‘Rose Bank’, Canalside and Massey was a builder and contractor, wheelwright and undertaker. His premises were situated in the buildings next to today’s village store. The business passed down to his son and grandson.
The Cartwright family had long been associated with the Methodist Chapel in the village and Massey continued the family tradition by serving as Chapel Steward.
He died in 1973, aged 79 years.