No.7523, Sergeant, Albert Victor CARTER
Aged 29
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Albert Victor Carter was born in Brandon (Thetford Q3-1887 4B:372) son of William and Emily CARTER (née SYMONDS). 1891 census...Aged 4, he was at Albion House, Brandon Wood, Brandon with his father William CARTER [39] gun flint maker; his mother Emily [34]; sisters Emily E [14], Mildred [9], Florence [8], Beatrice [7] and Ethel [5]; brothers William [12], John [11], Leonard [2] and Edward [1]. All were born in Brandon. 1901 census...Aged 14, a gun flint maker, he was at London Road, Brandon with his parents; brothers William (gun flint maker), Leonard, Edward and Harry [8] born Brandon; sisters Florence, Ethel and Allace [9] born Brandon. 1911 census...Aged 26, a private in the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, he was in Aden. Brother Leonard was in the 7th Dragoon Guards in India. His widowed mother was housekeeper to Henry Warf at Broomhill Farm, Weeting and his brother Walter Herbert [9], born Brandon, was living there also. His father had died in 1904. Brother Harry enlisted in September 1914 in the Leicester Regiment, transferred to the South Staffordshire Regiment but was discharged after just 86 days. By this time his mother was living at Bradfield, near Walsham. Her address in 1919 was Broomhill, Brandon His brother Leonard was killed in Belgium in 1914. see here |
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He enlisted in Holbeach. He seems to have given the Army the wrong age. His "Register of soldiers effects" card says also "Alias Charles Thompson", but
no explanation. He was awarded the Mons Star but no clasp, this was maybe simply that the clasp
was not claimed, strange since his brother Leonard, killed in France in 1914 was awarded the clasp. The 2nd Battalion were stationed in Bermuda at the outbreak of the war, only reaching the BEF on 6th November 1914. They were in the front line at Laventie by 14th November. The opening day of the 1st battle of the Somme, the worst day in British Military history. The Battalion War Diary has :- "In trenches opposite OVILLERS - 1st - Everybody was in their position by 3:30 am and the wire along the whole of our front reported cut by 2:30 am. 2Lt Eld and a few men got wounded doing this and Lt Ross' party had trouble owing to continual hostile machine gun fire. Brigade time was checked at 5:30 am. 6:25 am The intensive bombardment commenced, to which the enemy retaliated on our front line and assembly trenches with high explosive shrapnel. 7:25 am Companies started to move forward from their assembly positions preparatory to the assault. The three assaulting companies getting their 1st two waves out into no man's land and their 3rd and 4th waves out at zero hour. These arrangements were carried out most excellently, no hitch occurring, but casualties were fairly heavy from machine gun fire. The support company got into our front line trench but suffered a lot of casualties from shell fire. 7:30 am As soon as the barrage lifted the whole assaulted. They were met with very severe rifle fire and in most cases had to advance in rushes and return the fire. This fire seemed to come from the German second line, and the machine gun fire from our left. On reaching the German front line they found it strongly held and were met with a shower of bombs, but after a very hard fight about 200 yards of German line was taken about 7:50 am, the extreme right failing to get in and also the extreme left where there appeared to be a gap of about 70 yards although bits of platoons of the 70th Brigade joined them. The support company by this time joined in. The few officers that were left gallantly led their men over the German trench to attack the second line, but owing to the rifle and machine gun fire could not push on. Attempts were made to consolidate and make blocks but the trench was so badly knocked about that very little cover was obtainable. From the enfilade machine gun fire and continual bombing attacks which were being made by the enemy the whole line and one frontal attack from their second line which we repulsed. 9 am This isolated position became untenable no support being able to reach us owing to the intensive rifle and machine gun fire. Our left being driven back the remainder which by now only held about 100 yards had to withdraw. On reaching our own line all the men that could be collected were formed up and tried to push on again but the heavy machine gun and rifle fire made the ground quite impassable. 1 pm Orders were received from the Brigade to withdraw to Ribble and Melling Streets and occupy the assembly dugouts there, which was done. 12 midnight We were relieved by the 6th West Kents and proceeded to Long Valley. Casualties O.R. 26 killed, 303 wounded, 89 missing 25 wounded and missing.. {the officer casualties are named in the margins) CWGC has far worse figures, 135 killed, of which only 37 have identified graves click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
