Private 78215 George William Gladstone Carter

Killed in Action on Saturday, 7th July 1917, age 19.
Buried in Grave I. F. 2. at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

1st Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regt.). 24th Brigade of 8th Division.
Formerly 21048 10th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment, and 32397 9th, 13th & 15th Bns. Training Reserve Battalions.

Son of William and Louisa Carter, of 24 Cleton Street, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/142060/

Genealogical Data

Birth of George William G. Carter registered September quarter 1898 in Dudley. George was born on 13th May 1898, at 64 Gilbert Street, Tividale, Tipton, to William and Louisa (née Wilcox) Carter.

1901 Census
14 Court, 1 House, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
William Carter (42, Boatman, born Birmingham), his wife Louisa (44, born Washwood Heath), and their 6 children: William (19, Boatman, born Birmingham), Frank (15, Miner – Horse Driver below ground, born Birmingham), Walter (13, Miner – Horse Driver below ground, born Birmingham), May (9, born Tividale), Thomas (7, born Tividale), and George (2, born Tividale).

1911 Census
23 Cleton Street, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
William Carter (48, Carpenter, born Birmingham), his wife Louisa (50, born Birmingham), and 2 of their 7 surviving children of 8: Thomas (16, Labourer in Iron Foundry, born Dudley), and George (13, School, born Dudley).

Personal Data

George William G. Carter enlisted on 25th August 1915 in Wolverhampton for the 10th Battalion, South Staffs. He stated that he was 19 years and 49 days old. As he was born on 13th May 1898, he was 17 years and 117 days old.

He was 5 feet 2½ inches tall, weighed 119 pounds and had a 34-inch chest measurement. His physical development was described as “good”. His next of kin was his father, William Carter of 24 Cleton Street, Dudley Port, Tipton. George was employed as a ‘Labourer’.

He joined the South Staffs to commence training on 7th September 1915 at Penkridge Bank Camp. It is possible that the army became aware that he was under-age, as he was still in training in September 1916 when he moved into the newly-formed 9th Training Reserve battalion, subsequently to the 13th and 15th battalions.

At 18 years old, George was still under the minimum age to serve abroad when he sailed from Folkestone to Boulogne on 1st March 1917. After a fortnight at No. 14 Infantry Base Depot at Étaples, he joined the 1st Battalion, Notts & Derbyshire (Sherwood Foresters) on 18th March.

George had one disciplinary blackmark, on 16th April he was "awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2 for disobeying an order".

After George's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £2/6/8d (2 pounds, six shillings, and eight pence); this was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Louisa, in October 1917. His War Gratuity was £8/10/0 (eight pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his mother in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that George had enlisted in approximately July 1915, we know it was actually 25th August.

George's mother, Mrs Louisa Carter, was awarded a Dependant's Pension of 6/6d (6 shillings and 6 pence) per week, effective from 29th January 1918 and was stated to be paid "for life". Her address at that time was 24 Cleton Street, Tipton.

Action resulting in his death

At 11pm on 6th July 1917 the 1st Sherwoods were relieved from the front line by the Royal Irish Rifles, and were billeted in The Esplanade, in Ypres. The War Diary for 7th July records that a carrying party of 300 men was supplied to carry bombs etc. to West Lane, commencing at 9.30pm it was complete within 2 hours, and there were no casualties. This does not give any reason why 4 men of the battalion are recorded by the CWGC as being killed on the 7th July.

The War Diary for the 6th July records that after being relieved by the 1st Royal Irish Rifles, the 1st Sherwoods proceeded to The Esplanade, Ypres - near the Railway Station. It also records that Mr Urquhart was killed at the Menin Gate, as were several soldiers of No. 13 Platoon, D Company.

3 soldiers of the battalion are recorded by CWGC as being killed on 6th July as well as Lt Urquhart, this would seem to be the 'several soldiers' mention above. However these 3 soldiers are buried in Menin Road South, but Urquhart is buried in Vlamertinge New Military Cemetery. Buried alongside Urquhart are 4 further soldiers of the battalion who are recorded as being killed on the 7th July - this includes George Carter.

On balance I would suggest that George Carter is one of the 'several soldiers' killed at the Menin Gate with Lt. Urquhart, almost certainly due to enemy artillery fire.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.