The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Sergeant W Carter

Serjeant William CARTER, G/767, 10th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 23rd October 1918, age 24.

Born Tonbridge, Kent, son of William and Constance Carter, of 2, Church Row, Tonbridge, Kent.

1911 Census - 32 Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge - William Carter, head, age 55, married, house painter, born Tonbridge, Kent; Constance Carter, wife, age 54, married 31 years, 10 children, 9 still alive, ironer at private house, born Uckfield, Sussex; Daisy Carter, daughter, age 20, single, ironer at steam laundry, born Tonbridge, Kent; William Carter, son, age 17, single, labourer on farm, born Tonbridge, Kent; Harold Carter, son, age 14, born Tonbridge, Kent; Edith Carter, daughter, age 12, born Tonbridge, Kent; Minnie Carter, daughter, age 10, born Tonbridge, Kent.

Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent, age 22, height 5ft 6½ inches, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Formerly labourer.

Home, 1st September 1914 to 31st May 1915; BEF France, 1st June 1915 to 13th September 1915; Home, 14th September 1915 to 2nd May 1916; BEF France 3rd May 1916 to 23rd October 1918.

1st September 1914, enlisted; 4th September 1914, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 4th September 1914, posted 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th September 1915, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th September 1915 to 19th October 1915, Northumberland War Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, jaundice;

29th October 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 29th December 1915, posted 10th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st March 1916, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal; 3rd May 1916, posted BEF; 3rd May 11916, embarked Southampton; 4th May 1916, disembarked Havre; 9th July 1916, admitted 140 Field Ambulance, deafness; 17th July 1916, admitted 139 Field Ambulance, influenza; 25th July 1916, to Duty; 23rd September 1916, appointed paid Lance Corporal; 27th November 1916, granted 10 days leave to UK; 16th June 1917, appointed Acting Corporal; 16th June 1917, confirmed in substantive rank of Corporal; 13th September 1917, Agnes, admitted 4th Stationary Hospital, dermatitis; 30th September 1917, discharged to Unit; 25th October 1917, appointed unpaid Lance Sergeant; 29th October 1917, appointed paid Lance Sergeant; 14th November 1917, proceeded to Italy; 5th December 1917, promoted Sergeant; 25th April 1918, wounded severe, gas shell, admitted 139 Field Ambulance; 27th April 1918, Boulogne, admitted 13 General Hospital; 8th June 1918, proceeded to join Unit; 10th July 1918, granted 14 days leave to UK; 12th August 1918. wounded admitted 139 Field Ambulance, gun shot wound face; 25th August 1918, to Duty.

25th May 1919, memo from Brigadier General, Commanding Troops, Crowborough to Major General, Eastern Command, Administration - I beg to report that Mrs Constance Carter was unable, through ill health, to be present at the medal presentation parade held here on 23rd May 1919, which she was invited to attend. The Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to No.767., Sergeant Carter W.,Royal West Kent Regiment, was, however, privately presented to her by me at her house at 2 Church Row, Tonbridge on the 24th inst.

£20 credited to Soldiers Account for Distinguished Conduct Medal.

12th May 1919, date when Separation Allowance of 5/- a week paid to Mrs Constance Carter (mother) will cease.

3rd July 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, William Carter, age 64, 2, Church Row, Tonbridge, Kent; Mother, Constance Carter, age 62, 2, Church Row, Tonbridge, Kent; Brother, Harold Carter, age 23, ?????. Maidstone; Sisters - Florence Bing, age 36, 29 Priory Street, Tonbridge, Kent; Susannah Bassett, age 34, 122 St Marys? Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Daisy Marten, age 27, 2, Church Row, Tonbridge, Kent; Edith Carter, age 21, The ???? Lewisham, E13; Minnie Carter, age 19, 2, Church Row, Tonbridge, Kent.

Buried at Dadizeele New British Cemetery, V. D. 24., Moorslede, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Link to Tonbridge Slade School

AWARDS: DCM

Commemorated on Tonbridge War Memorial - Tonbridge War Memorial - The original World War I memorial at the Junction of Pembury Road and Quarry Hill. The names were later re-inscribed in the new Memorial Garden in Bradford Street.

From Tonbridge History - William Nelson Carter D.C.M. [Brother of Albert George] was born at Tonbridge in 1893, the son of William and Constance Carter, formerly living at Shipbourne Road and later moving to Church Row. Before joining up he worked for Whitefriars Press. He enlisted in the Royal West Kent Regiment on 1st September 1914. He served in the 3rd and 6th Battalions of the Regiment, before being promoted Sergeant 767 in the 10th Battalion on 5th December 1917. He had first gone to France on 1st June 1915, and then transferred to Italy in November of that year. He was awarded the D.C.M. at about that time, the award being gazetted on 3rd June 1918. He returned to France in March 1918. He was gassed and wounded on 27th April 1918, recovered and returned to the front only to be wounded again, this time a gunshot wound, on 19th August 1918. He again returned to duty, and was subsequently killed in action on 22nd October 1918. He is buried at Dadizeele New British Cemetery.

London Gazette 21st October 1918

His Majesty The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to the under mentioned Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men, for gallantry and distinguished service in the Field:—

Serjeant William CARTER, G/767, Royal West Kent Regiment

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty and continuous good work in the Field as platoon Serjeant, especially during certain offensive operations lasting for several days, when, by his total disregard of personal danger and his energy, he offered a splendid example to all ranks with him.

This page was last updated on 11-Nov-2020.