CARTER, Herbert Gordon
| Service Number: | Commissioned |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 5th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | St Leonards, Sydney New South Wales, Australia, 24 March 1885 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Grammar School, The King's School Parramatta and University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Electrical Engineer |
| Died: | Killara, New South Wales, Australia, 11 July 1963, aged 78 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Grammar School WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned, 1st Infantry Battalion, Embarked on HMAT 'A19' Afric from Sydney on 18th October 1914. | |
| 22 Feb 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, Commissioned, 1st Infantry Battalion, Wounded - shock from explosion - rejoined battalion on 29th May 1915. | |
| 13 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, Commissioned, 1st Infantry Battalion, Suffering from Debility - received treatment at various establishments in Egypt, including 1st Australian General Hospital Heliopolis, before rejoining unit on 30th October 1915. | |
| 22 Nov 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
| 28 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Major, Commissioned, 1st Infantry Battalion, Returned on HMT Huntsgreen to Alexandria, Egypt from Gallipoli on 28th December 1915. | |
| 13 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Major, 53rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Mar 1916: | Transferred 5th Pioneer Battalion | |
| 19 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Major, Commissioned, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Embarked on Canada from Alexandria, Egypt on 19th June 1916, disembarking Marseilles, France on 25th June 1916 to join British Expeditionary Force. | |
| 29 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 5th Pioneer Battalion | |
| 21 Jan 1918: |
Honoured
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, "During the Winter Lieut-Colonel Carter was in charge of communication trenches up the ridge in front of the Gueudecourt-Lesboeufs line. This work had been particularly trying nature owing to the heavy shelling, followed by bad weather and mud of the worst description. During the advance past Beaulencourt this officer was put in charge of the construction of the Decauville from Needle Trench forward to Beaulencourt, together with the improvement of the Ginchy-Needle portion, and fitting it for mule haulage. Lieut-Colonel Carter was indefatigable in personally supervising the construction at railhead, the salvage organisation for obtaining rail from back areas, and afterwards organasing the work oof the line. But for this Decauville it would have been impossible for the Division to have advanced across the shelled area and maintain ed itself on the far side. Lieut-Colonel Carter again did very good work on a Decauville line from Vaulx past Noreuil, also on communication trenches, deep dug-outs and strong points in the Vaulx-Noreuil sector. He has always been most conscientious and painstaking in his work, and shown great devotion to duty." J.L.Hobbs Major - General Commanding 5th Australian Division |
|
| 5 Apr 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, Commissioned, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Embarked for return to Australia on HMT Warwickshire from Liverpool, England on 5th April 1919, disembarking Melbourne 28th May 1919. | |
| 17 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, Commissioned, 5th Pioneer Battalion |
Help us honour Herbert Gordon Carter's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Daryl Jones
Eldest son of Herbert James Carter, entomologist, and his wife Antoinette Charlotte, née Moore.
Married Lydia Kate KING (/explore/people/299238) on 31st January 1917 in England
Five children
- Beatrice Wynne CARTER, born 20th May 1918 in North Earling England died 3rd May 1920
- Edward Gordon CARTER, born 14th August 1919 in Sydney died 2015
- John Whitfield CARTER, born 20th April 1921 in Roseville died 1st April 1944 whilst serving as a Pilot Officer in RAAF during WWII
- Anthony James CARTER, born 5th June 1923 in Roseville died 22nd December 2010
- plus one unknown
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Herbert Gordon Carter was born in Sydney, New South Wales, during 1885 to parents Herbert and Antoinette Carter. An electrical engineer by trade, he enlisted on 3 September 1914 at the age of 29. Enlisting with the 1st Infantry Battalion, Carter was appointed the rank of lieutenant. His brother, Captain Robert Burnside Carter, a medical student, made his own way to England and served during the First World War with the British Army, being awarded a Military Cross.
Herbert served at Gallipoli during 1915, where his younger brother 344 Sapper Edward Moore Carter, 1st Field Company Australian Engineers, died of wounds on 23 July 1915. Herbert was promoted to the rank of captain and then major that same year. In 1916 he was transferred to the 53rd Infantry Battalion and later the 5th Pioneer Battalion. In August 1916, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and took over command of the 5th Pioneer Battalion for the remainder of the First World War.
On 31 January 1917, Carter married Lydia Kate King from Orange, New South Wales, who was then working with the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Southall, England. Carter received a mentioned in despatches three times and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in January 1918. Herbert Carter returned to Australia on 5 April 1919.
His sister, Ursula Mary Carter also served overseas as a nurse with the Australian Army Nursing Service.
Herbert’s son, Pilot Officer John Whitfield Carter, RAAF, was flying a Typhoon fighter bomber during WW2 when his aircraft went missing during an operation over the English Channel. No trace of it was ever found.
Herbert had a long and distinguished career as an electrical engineer after the war, and became a director of many large business interests. He passed away in 1963.
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