Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born- 26 Feb1909 in Forbes to Joseph Maynard Alting and Ann Caroline Smith (nee Smith but married at the time to a Henry Walter Carr-who's whereabouts were unknown). He was 9th of 11 children but the 1st of Caroline's 2nd marriage which occurred in 1913. Joseph was named after his birth father and an uncle John (Manus Alting).

Joseph was a trained hairdresser and keen rugby / euchre player with shares in a Barber Shop in Leeton, NSW. He married a Florence Mary Leighton of Naranderra ,NSW on the 19 May 1928. They had a son in Jul 1929 (John Mervyn)who grew to be a keen rugby player also.

On the 09 Jun 1936, Joseph's mother past away at Peak Hill. NSW. In May 1940, His then only young brother Anthol, passed away due to a tetnus infection (his only younger brother had passed away in 1916 due to asthma, aged 1yr). His older brother Ignatious A.F. Carr serving with the 2/18 Bn was captured by the Japanese in Java after the fall of Singapore and dying in Burma 12 Jun 1943.

He was known as "Jack" Alting or Joe "Carr" up until his enlistment on the 15 May 1942. He enlisted under the name Joseph John Maynard Alting-Carr as per his birth certificate, where his mother's then husband (a Mr H.W. Carr) is listed as the family name as per custom. Joseph served with the 131st General Transport Company a full-time Militia unit based at Redlands Qld, his service details are limited as his wife destroyed all personal papers in the 1960s (possible due to early mental health issues that culminated in dementia by the 1980s). CARO records are slim. It is known, that although he was diagnosed with silicosis of the lungs from inhalation of fine hair particles during his previous occupation as a hairdresser, he gave good contentious military service.

On the 21 Jul 1945, Joseph's 2nd son (Ronald) was born but passed away 10 days later due to congenital heart problems. Then on the 24 Oct 1945, his father passed away at Camperdown Hospital, NSW, from coronary sclerosis. Joseph then discharged from the Army on the 30 Nov 1945 with the rank of private and returned to his young family and civilian life.

Joseph pursued a passion for horse racing (probably from his wife's family interests in horse ownership) to the point of hosting various "off track" events that brought him and his son in the late 40s and early 50s before various magistrate courts and receive numerous fines (2-20 pounds).

On the 08 Apr 1959, Joseph (aged 50yrs) died due to cardio pulmonary failure within 50m of his home while walking up to the main shopping area in Leeton, NSW. His death certificate erroneously lists his father as a John Mafeking Alting-Carr (Mafeking was a notorious siege during the Boer war and probably links to his fathers Boer war service in 1901/02). Joseph's wife, Florence, did not follow her husband until 1988 (78yrs) , tragically, not before burying their only surviving child in 1979 (also, cardio pulmonary failure aged 50yrs).

At the time of his death, Joseph's son John had been married for approximately 6yrs and did not have their first child till 1963-named John Maynard (the author of this story) and another son in 1964 called, Peter. We are the last male children born of this name which started in 1909 with our grandfather who did his duty as husband and father. Researching his story and that of the family tree has revealed that ordinary people form the the bulk of historical events and they just do what they can as events unfold. If they weren't there nothing could have been achieved- Generals may command but an army is built on thousands doing their job. He did his part.