Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alan Victor Carter was born on the 22nd of March, 1893 in Horsham, Victoria, Australia. His next of kin was Samuel Charles Carter, his father. The height of Carter was 5’8” with his weight being approximately 66.2 kilograms. His religion was Presbyterian and his occupation was a bank clerk. Before going to war, he served in the senior cadets.

Carter enlisted to go to World War 1 on the 15th of August, 1914 in Prahran, Melbourne, Victoria. He served in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for the 5th Battalion, E Company. This unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria and boarded Transport A3, Orvieto, on the 21st of October, 1914; Carter was 21 years old at the time. The 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th battalions formed the 2nd Brigade. Carter’s regimental number is 376. Within the fortnight after the declaration of World War 1 (August 1914), the 5th battalion was formed and embarked from Melbourne on the 20th of October, 1914.

The battalion continued onto Egypt on the 2nd of December, 1914, after a short stop at Albany, in Western Australia. They were a part of the second wave ANZAC landing at ANZAC Cove on the 25th of April, 1915 but were transferred 10 days later, to Cape Helles. This was to support the attack on the village of Krithia although they didn’t end up controlling much land and cost almost one third of the 2nd Brigade’s strength. Carter was designated Lance Corporal for the ANZACs on the 9th of May and was then promoted to Corporal on the 23rd of July. To support the defence of the beachhead, the 2nd Brigade returned to the ANZACs in August, 1915 and fought in the battle of Lone Pine (in Gallipoli). The 5th battalion served the ANZACs until December because of the evacuation.

On the 1st of September, 1915, Carter was designated Lance Sergeant and then transferred to Sergeant on the 10th of September, 1915. Carter became a Temporary Company Quartermaster Sergeant on the 4th on November, 1915.

The 5th battalion went back to Egypt after the evacuation from Gallipoli. Carter was appointed to 2nd Lieutenant on the 20th of February, 1916. On the 1st of March Carter left the School of Instruction in Zeitoun, Egypt and rejoined the unit in Serapeum, Egypt (on the 14th of February) Being part of the British Expeditionary Force, Carter and the 5th battalion sailed to the Western Front and France to attack the German Army on the 25th of March, 1916. Carter was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of June. In July, 1916, they took action at Pozieres in the Somme Valley. Carter showed good leadership and courage at Pozieres on the 25th of July and was therefore given a recommendation on the 2nd of August. The 5th battalion then fought at Ypres and returned to Somme in the winter season. On the 19th of August, 1916, Carter was awarded the Military Cross medal, “For conspicuous gallantry during operations, when, by his bravery and good leadership in a difficult situation, he enabled a trench to be held back against a strong enemy counter-attack.” (Commonwealth Gazette, 14 December, 1916) Carter fractured his left foot during war therefore he was admitted to the 13th Field Ambulance on the 15th of October, 1916. He moved many times to different hospitals during the year of 1916 including 10th Casualty Clearing Station, 14th General Hospital, to England and finally, Carter was admitted to York Military Hospital.

On the 10th of January, 1917, Carter proceeded overseas to France and rejoined the unit of the 16th of January. Carter was promoted to Captain on the 23rd of February. In this year, the 5th battalion became part of the actions that followed up to the German Army withdrawing to the Hindenburg line. The battalion then travelled back to Belgium to participate in the offence at the east of Ypres and helped to halt the German’s spring offensive. Then they were involved in the allied offensive that began near Amiens on the 8th of August, 1918. A successful day for the British and its empire on the Western Front made them advance in a single day. German General, Erich Ludendorff described it as "The black day of the German Army in this war.”

Carter was discharged from war on the 12th of February, 1918. His appointment was terminated in the Australian Imperial Force in London for being appointed to a Commission in the Indian Army. Carter’s medals aside from his Military Cross are the Military Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Alan Victor Carter’s date of death, cemetery and memorial is unknown.