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.
Alamein is a village, bypassed by the main coast road, approximately 130 kilometres west of Alexandria on the road to Mersa Matruh. The first Commission road direction sign is located just beyond the Alamein police checkpoint and all cemetery visitors should turn off from the main road onto the parallel old coast road. The cemetery lies off the road beyond the ridge, and road direction signs are in place approximately 25 metres before the low metal gates and stone wing walls which are situated centrally at the road edge at the head of the access path into the cemetery. The Cross of Sacrifice feature may be seen from the road.
