Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Don was born on 28 Feb 1889 at Tumby Bay to George Carr and Margaret Carr (nee McCallum).  He was the second eldest of 5 children in the family, 4 boys and a girl. His father was a farmer at Wadella

It is thought that he went to school at Wadella, leaving at an early age to work on the farm. On enlistment in the Army on 11 Mar 1916 he gave his occupation as farmer and his address as Tumby Bay; he listed his father as next of kin.

He was processed at Mitcham on 1 May 1916 and sent to 2nd Depot Battalion (Bn) on the same day to commence his training; also on the same day he was allocated to 14th Reinforcements/27th Bn. On 12 Aug 1916 he completed his training and embarked at Adelaide aboard HMAT “Ballarat” bound for UK, disembarking at Plymouth (UK) on 30 Sep 1916. He marched into 7 Training Bn at Rolleston (UK) on the same day and undertook continuation training.

On 13 Nov 1916 he was admitted to Military Hospital Fargo where he remained for a week before returning to the Training Bn. On 13 Dec 1916 he embarked aboard the SS “Victoria” at Folkstone (UK) bound for France, disembarking at Etaples (Fr) a day later. On 18 Dec 1916 he was finally taken on strength by his unit (27th Bn).

The 27th Bn was raised in SA in Mar 1915. After action at Gallipoli it was sent to the Western Front entering the front line for the first time on 7 Apr 1916; its first major battle was at Pozieres from 28 Jul to 5 Aug 1916; the Bn then returned to the Somme and took part in two attacks at Flers, both of which floundered in the mud. It was after these attacks that Don joined his unit.

The Bn participated in the Allied Spring Offensive of early 1917 before returning to Belgium where, on 20 Sep 1917, it formed part of the “first wave” at the battle of Menin Road, achieving and holding their objective. This victory led to the capture of Broodseinde Ridge on 4 Oct 1917, in which the 27th Bn was also involved. After these successes, troops of the unit were granted leave to the UK; Don was given leave from 9 Dec 1917, returning to his unit just after Christmas of that year.

The Bn then rotated in and out of the front line and was involved in repulsing the German Offensive during Apr 1918. It fought at the battles of Morlancourt on 10 Jun 1918 and Hamel on 4 Jul 1918. It again was part of the “first wave”, this time at the battle of Amiens where it captured 9 artillery pieces, 25 machine guns and took over 200 prisoners. It was during this action that Don was wounded in action (WIA), with gunshot wounds to his head and left thigh.

 Don was evacuated through 6th Australian Field Ambulance to 20th Casualty Clearing station and then to 32nd Stationary Hospital. His wounds were classified as severe and he was evacuated to London General Hospital, where he remained until 21 Dec 1918, when he was transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital. On 2 Jan 1919 he was transferred to 2 Convalescent Depot before embarking aboard HS “Margha” at Waymouth (UK) for return to Australia, disembarking in Adelaide on 28 Feb 1919. He was discharged as medically unfit on 22 Jun 1919 and returned to the farm at Wadella

Don married Marjorie Hilma Johanson at Wadella on 6 Jan 1925. They remained on the farm and raised their family of 2 boys there. In the late 1940s the couple retired from the farm, and moved to Tumby Bay and purchased a house in Tumby Terrace. The boys took over the operation of the farm.

Marjorie died on 25 Feb 1954 soon after the move to Tumby and is buried in the Tumby Bay Cemetery. Don died on 2 Jun 1968 and is buried beside his wife.