He continued to serve in the military part-time, returning to full-time service during the Second World War, undertaking a training role in Australia.

Settling in New South Wales, Cartwright gained employment at a sheep station in the Elsmore district as a labourer.

[3][7] After the 3rd Division, to which the 33rd Battalion was assigned, deployed to the Western Front in November 1916, Cartwright served with them through the Battle of Messines where he was wounded in June 1917.

He married Elsie Broker at St Stephen's Anglican Church, at Chatswood, New South Wales, on 25 June 1921.

[2] He remained in the military, serving part-time in the Militia, posted to the 4th/3rd Battalion, eventually being commissioned as an officer on 25 February 1932.

He later worked as an assistant-cashier and in 1948 remarried, exchanging nuptials with Evelyn Mary Short on 4 September 1948 in the Congregational Church, at Pitt Street in Sydney.

[2] He was cremated and his Victoria Cross and other decorations were later donated by his widow to the Imperial War Museum in London, where they are currently held.