Name
Albert Edgar Carter
13 Nov 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/08/1918
20 years
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
44267
Lincolnshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT
VI. A. 5
France
Headstone Inscription
"IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON PEACE PERFECT PEACE"
UK & Other Memorials
Whitwell War Memorial, Breachwood Green Baptist Church Memorial, Breachwood Green, All Saints Church Memorial, St Paul's Walden, St Mary's Church Memorial, King's Walden, Not on the Welwyn Memorial
Pre War
Albert Edgar Carter was born in Kings Walden, Hertfordshire, on 13 Nov 1897 the son of Charles Carter (born 1866 in Kings Walden, Herts) a gardener and Clara Carter (nee Almond) (born 1866 in Luton, Beds).
The 1901 Census records Albert, aged 3, living with his parents, brothers Harold J (Born 1891), Maurice (born 1892) and sister Ella S (born 1895), in Breachwood Green, Kings Walden, Herts.
Albert was educated at nearby Kings Walden County Council School, from Apr 1902 – Nov 1911, leaving school at the age of 14 years. He was educated at Breachwood School and Kings Walden County Council school, from April 1902 – November 1911. Leaving school at the age of 14 years.
The 1911 Census records Albert aged 13, at school, living with his parents, brother Harold James, a Furniture Shop Assistant, and sister Ida (born 1903) , in Breachwood Green, Kings Walden, Herts. At the time of enlistment, he was working as a Journeyman Gardener and living in Welwyn, Herts.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Albert, but it is known that he enlisted in Hitchin, on 11 May 1916, initially being posted to the Middlesex Regiment for initial training and then transferred to the Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham and Derbyshire) Regiment with the Service No 307271 in Oct 1916. This Service Number is the new number allocated to Territorial soldiers so Albert may have serving in 1/5,1/7 or 1/8 Battalions Sherwood Foresters.
He served in France from Feb 1917. Albert was badly gassed at Gommecourt on 27 Sep 1917 and invalided home to recover. He returned to France on 28 Mar 1918, and was subsequently transferred to the 1st Battalion, (10th Foot) The Lincolnshire Regiment with the Service No 44267 in Apr 1918.
The 21st Division took part in the Battle of Albert (21 -23 Aug 1918 as part of Second Battles of the Somme 1918) and Albert was severely wounded in action on the 21 Aug 1918, and was taken to No 29 Casualty Clearing Station at Gazaincourt. He died the following day, aged 20, and is buried at the CWGC Bagneux British Cemetery, Gazaincourt, France.
CWGC site has 2nd Battalion Lincolns recorded for Albert instead of 1st Battalion. It should be noted that both 1st & 2nd Battalions were serving 62 Brigade 21 Division in spring 1918.
Additional Information
His parents jointly received a war gratuity of £10 and pay owing of £4 15s 6d. His mother also received a pension of 5 shillings a week.
Brother Harold served with 8th Battalion Bedfrordshire Regiment as Private 20149 in France from Jan 1916 to Sep 1916 and Labour Corps as Private 581405 until demobilized in Feb 1919.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Stuart Osborne, Paul Johnson, June Colegrove, Mark Morgan, Brenda Palmer
