Name
George Carter
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/07/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16950
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Welwyn Village Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Roll of Honour, Welwyn, Welwyn and Woolmer Green Memorial, Welwyn
Pre War
George was born in Welwyn in 1893 to George Carter and Hannah (nee Holton) and baptised in St Mary's church on 8 November 1893. Their first-born son was also named George but died in infancy two years earlier. His parents had married in 1889 and lived in one of the cottages next to The Steamer public house.
The family were living at 4 Welwyn Hill, Welwyn on the 1901 Census when his father was working as a Bricklayer's Labourer.
His parents both died, a few month apart, in 1904, leaving George, his one surviving brother, and four sisters orphaned.
George also had a half sister, ten years older, Emily Elizabeth Holton, the illegitimate daughter of Hannah. Emily was accepted by her step father George and her half siblings and lived with them until her marriage to Albert Brunton in 1900. She and her half sister Rose raised the orphaned family as best as they could, however by the 1911 Census Emily and Albert had four children of their own and lived in a small cottage in Mimram Road, Welwyn. George, working as a farm labourer, lived with them as a boarder. The remaining four youngest children, still being of school age were living in the Union Workhouse. His sister Rose, the eldest, entered service and left the village. George was later employed by Mr John Davis, a coal merchant.
Wartime Service
George enlisted at the outbreak of war and joined the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, serving in France from 1 April 1915.
He was killed in action on 30 July 1916, aged 23, during the assault on Maltz Horn Ridge (part of the Battle of the Somme). He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
On this one day the 2nd Battalion lost 192 men (including 6 officers) with 9 wounded.
Additional Information
George is recorded by the CWGC as the brother of Mrs E E Brunton, Moor Cottage, Welwyn, but he is actually a half brother.
She received a war gratuity of £8 10s as well as pay owing of £11 8s 9d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Paul Jiggens, Welwyn and District History Society - www.welwynww1.co.uk, Brenda Palmer
