CARTER, James Ernest
| Service Number: | 2891 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 10 October 1887 |
| Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Bangor State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway porter |
| Died: | Killed in action, Mouquet Farm, France, 3 September 1916, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Launceston Cenotaph, Tasmanian Government Railways, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2891, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2891, 12th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2891, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 3 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 2891, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2891 awm_unit: 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-09-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
James Ernest Carter of Launceston, Tasmania enlisted with the 12th Battalion AIF and during the expanding of the AIF in 1916 he transferred to the 52nd Battalion. His mother and father had both passed away before he was ten years of age. He gave his next of kin as his sister.
James was part of a group of thirteen men of the 52nd Battalion who were all recommended for a bravery award, for the following deed. On 14 August 1916, “Some wounded men, having been left out in front of the firing line near the Farm de Mouquet, a party under Lieutenant Ralph Anderson volunteered to go out from Albert, a distance of 8 kilometres, and try and bring them in. This they did, having to make their way for a very long distance over ground and through saps that were being shelled heavily by the enemy; with much trouble in the darkness, they located the men in No Mans Land, near the enemy trenches, and brought them back to safety over ground that was being swept by our own guns and over the ground being bombarded by the enemy.”
It is assumed he was awarded a Congratulatory Card from the CO of the 4th Division, Major General H.V. Cox, as it was reported in Tasmania newspapers during May 1917, eight months after he was reported as missing in action at Mouquet Farm, 4 September 1916.
“Mrs. Mickleborough of Abbott Street Launceston received word through the Rev. H. H. Jeffs that her brother, Private James E. Carter 52nd (late 12th) Battalion who was reported missing on September 4, 1916 was killed in action on that date. Private Carter had been previously mentioned for gallantry in bringing in wounded men and was congratulated by Major-General Cox. A letter from one of his comrades said: -“Although Jim was hit four times he still fought bravely until he was struck by a bullet from a German machine gun; then he never moved again.”
Prior to enlisting Pte Carter was employed at the Tasmanian railways. His remains were never found