Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Carter was born in 1890 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, the eldest of 2 sons born to Joseph Carter native of West Hartlepool born 1863 and Harriet Burch (in census of 1891 transcribed as Birch), born 1863 at Hebburn who were married at Gateshead in 1887. Newly married they lived at South View Terrace, Heworth, Gateshead, living with them was Harriet’s widowed mother Mary and her sister Ann. John Snr. was a seaman with the rank of Chief Mate spending most of his time at sea, in 1901 John Jnr. and his brother Robert, born 1898, are living with their mother at 3, Springfield Terrace, Heworth. There is no trace of Harriet or her sons in the census of 1911 this may be explained by the fact that she was taken into an asylum, exact date unknown.
On the outbreak of war John Carter enlisted in 1914 assigned as Private 2229 to the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force. Unfortunately his military record no longer exists, one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2.
John enlisted at Gateshead where the 1st/9th was raised in September 1914 joining the battalion at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland at their barracks at Fenham. After initial training at Boldon Colliery and Ravensworth they returned to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in October 1914. Training completed they departed from Newcastle railway station April 19th 1915 bound for France via Folkestone landing at Boulogne and within days without any nursery training, having moved across France to Belgium, they were in the trenches fighting during the 2nd Battle of Ypres where they suffered heavy casualties from shelling and gas attacks on the Frezenberg and Bellewaarde ridges. They remained on the Ypres salient and in the trenches at Armentieres until August 1916 when they moved south to the battlefields of the Somme.
Private Carter during his service was promoted reaching the rank of Lance Serjeant and awarded the Military Medal, in acknowledgement of his act/s of bravery on land whilst on active service.
Lance Serjeant John Carter M.M. Durham Light Infantry was killed in action September 15th 1916 on the first day of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette where the Division captured Martinpuich. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, which commemorates servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and who have no known grave. He was 26 years old and single.
His will had nominated Harriet as his sole beneficiary, this was overruled, as previously stated his mother was in an asylum, presumably his money and effects were given to his father, who at the time of his son’s death was himself on active service with the rank of Captain in the Merchant Navy.
Lance Serjeant Carter was also the recipient of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His mother Harriet Carter nee Burch died at Darlington in 1936 aged 53, details of his father’s demise unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop's Local Advertiser 24/8/1917 reports the presentation of gold watches and medals to local heroes, including:
Capt. Carter on behalf of his son Sergt. John Carter, Military Medalist (deceased).
There was a touch of sadness in the presentation of a medal, which was received by Mr. T.H. Pickles, on behalf of Capt. Carter whose son Sergt. John Carter had been awarded the Military Medal but unfortunately had made the supreme sacrifice.
There were many whom they had the privilege of honouring, said Major English, but some of those who had won distinction had gone under, and one of them was sergt. Carter. They had received no details of the gallant tales he did, but he knew that many gallant deeds had been done that day and many lives had been lost. Sergt. Carter's father was serving his country on the seas and was unable to be present. Instead of receiving the grant that was allowed from the fund, Capt. Carter had preferred a medal in remembrance of his son. Major English asked the audience to stand, in honour of this brave soldier who had died for his country.
The Chairman's request was complied with in silence.
Mr. Pickles, on receiving the medal promised that it would be forwarded at once to Captain Carter, who was under orders to sail to a foreign land."
John Carter is remembered at Felling on F32.23 and in Heworth on H92.04 and H92.07
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance
