Robert Arthur Elliot CARTER MM

CARTER, Robert Arthur Elliot

Service Number: 5057
Enlisted: 22 December 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 59th Infantry Battalion
Born: Horsham, Victoria. Australia, November 1889
Home Town: Horsham, Wimmera, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Grazier
Died: GSW to buttock & Tetanus, Section 5 War Hospital, Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom, 10 September 1918
Cemetery: Exeter Higher Cemetery, Devon, England
Grave No. 75, Exeter Higher Cemetery, Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brimpaen Memorial Gates
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World War 1 Service

22 Dec 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5057, 8th Infantry Battalion
1 Apr 1916: Involvement Private, 5057, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: ''
1 Apr 1916: Embarked Private, 5057, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Melbourne
23 Jul 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 59th Infantry Battalion
31 Jul 1916: Honoured Military Medal
31 Aug 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5057, Mont St Quentin / Peronne, DoW 10th September, 1918 in Section 5 War Hospital, Exeter, Devon from wounds received in France – gunshot wound to right buttock & Tetanus.
10 Sep 1918: Involvement Private, 5057, 59th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5057 awm_unit: 59th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-09-10
12 Feb 1919: Honoured Military Medal, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at VILLE-sur-ANCRE, South West of ALBERT, on 4th July 1918. When a machine gun on the flank of his platoon was causing casualties he ran along the trench bombing the garrison, and put the machine gun out of action, killing or taking prisoner the crew. His prompt actions and disregard of danger undoubtedly relieved a situation which was becoming serious.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23 Date: 12 February 1919

Help us honour Robert Arthur Elliot Carter's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon

He was 28 and the son of George James and Mary Carter, of "Rosebrook," Horsham, Victoria, Australia.

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

The latest name to be added to the list of those who have died for us is that of Private Robert Arthur Elliot Carter, son of Mr. George Carter, of Rosebrook. The gallant young soldier, who enlisted in December, 1915, saw service in Egypt and France, and was rewarded with the Military Medal for bravery and devotion to duty. He left his native shores in company with his brother Tom, in April, 1916, and was with him until the latter was invalided home about twelve months ago. The deceased was 28 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred on September 10th in the Exeter War Hospital, as the result of gunshot wounds received during the recent severe fighting on the west front. He had been offered stripes, but preferred to remain with his old mates as a private in the ranks. He was a sterling lad, loved as well as honored by those who knew him, and was always a favorite with his school mates, both locally and at Hamilton College, where he completed his education. Up to the time of enlistment he assisted on his father's estate; where his loss will be greatly felt. To add to the sadness, on the day prior to that of the notification of his death in England a cablegram had been received by his parents leading them to suppose that no serious results need be dreaded.

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
 
Died on this date - 10th September.....Private Robert Arthur Elliot Carter was born at “Rosebrook” Horsham, Victoria in late 1889. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 22nd December, 1915 as a 26 year old, single, Grazier from “Rosebrook”, Horsham, Victoria.

Private Carter embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Suffolk (A23) with the 8th Infantry Battalion, 16th Reinforcements on 1st April, 1916 & disembarked at Suez on 14th May, 1916.

Private Carter was transferred to 60th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 24th May, 1916. He proceeded to France arriving at Marseilles on 30th June, 1916.
Private Carter was transferred to 59th Battalion on 23rd July, 1916. He was sent sick to Hospital on 2nd October, 1915 & rejoined his Battalion on 16th October, 1916.

Private Carter was on furlough to UK from 7th August, 1917 & rejoined his Battalion on 18th August, 1917.
Private Robert Arthur Elliot Carter, 5057, 59th Australian Infantry Battalion, was awarded the Military Medal on 31st July, 1918 “for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Ville-sur-Ancre, south-west of Albert on 4th July, 1918. When a machine gun on the flank of his platoon was causing casualties he ran along the trench bombing the garrison, and put the machine gun out of action, killing or taking prisoner the crew. His prompt actions and disregard of danger undoubtedly relieved a situation which was becoming serious.”

Private Carter was wounded in action on 31st August, 1918. He was admitted to 6th Field Ambulance with gunshot wounds to right thigh & invalided to England on Hospital Ship Panama.

Private Carter was admitted to War Hospital, Exeter, Devon, England on 4th September, 1918 with gunshot wounds to right buttock – severe.

Private Robert Arthur Elliot Carter died at 7 am on 10th September, 1918 in Section 5 War Hospital, Exeter, Devon from wounds received in France – gunshot wound to buttock & Tetanus.

Private Robert Arthur Elliot Carter was buried in Exeter Higher Cemetery, Devon, England where 5 other WW1 Australian War Graves are found.

A letter was sent to Mrs Carter, “Rosebrook” Wartook P.O. Horsham, Victoria , dated 11th October, 1922 which reads: “With further reference to your letter of the 7th June, enquiry has been made with regard to the grave of Private R.A.E. Carter in Exeter Higher Cemetery with the result that it has been discovered that all the private memorials erected over the graves of soldiers, in the War Plot have been removed by the Exeter City Council, and that a granite block has been placed over each grave and the turf levelled. On these blocks have been engraved the particulars of the deceased, painted black. The private memorials themselves have been placed in the mortuary.

This treatment has been carried out entirely by the City Council with a view to uniformity so that now all the graves in the War Plot in Exeter High Cemetery are exactly alike, but the burial place of each soldier is carefully distinguished by the granite blocks which have been placed level with the turf.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/higher-cemetery.html

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