Name
Harry Carter
Abt 1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/11/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
30275
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
IXA. E. 10.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Chipperfield, Village Memorial, St Paul's Church Memorial, Chipperfield
Pre War
Harry Carter was born Abt 1880, in Stockbridge, Hampshire, son of Mary Carter (nee Miles). No early documents were found for Harry until the 1881 Census which records Harry aged 2, an Inmate with his widowed mother Mary (a charwoman), Sisters Annie (14), Fanny (9) and Sarah (5), in the “Union Workhouse”, Church Street, Stockbridge, Hants.
1891 Census records Harry aged 11, living with his widowed mother and her brother Edward Miles in Kings Lane, Over Wallop, Hants.
1901 Census has Harry aged 21, single, his occupation is not given. He was boarding with, Shepherd, George Gilbert, and his family at, Fittleton Rectory, 362 Fittleton, Pewsey, Wiltshire.
Harry married Berthe Bessie Plummer the daughter of Frederick and Martha Plummer in late 1902 in Stockbridge, Hants. The went on to have four children, Emmeline (B 1905), Frederick (B 1906), Gladys (B 1909) and Henry (B 1912).
1911 Census records Harry aged 31, married, with 3 children, employed as a Shepherd, and living in, Quarley Down Cottages, Cholerton, Wiltshire.
The family would later move to the Chipperfield area where Harry was employed as a Shepherd by Mr. Blackwell.
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted at Bedford, Bedfordshire, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment, with the service number 30275, serving on the Western Front. It is believed Harry served with the 3rd, 4th & 1st Battalions. He was Killed in Action on 12 November 1917.
Extract from Battalion War Diary.
12 Nov 1917 – Polygon Racecourse. Battalion relived the 12/13 Northumberland Fusiliers in front line near Polygon Racecourse. Relief was shelled 6 O.R’s being Killed.
It is believed that Harry was one of those Killed. He is buried in the CWGC Hooge Crater Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Additional Information
His wife Bertha received a Widows Pension 33/9 a week, for herself and the children, from 3 June 1918. The pension records show the family were living at The Oaks, Chipperfield Common, Herts. Bertha also received his effects of £2-7s-2d, Pay Owing and a War Gratuity of £5-10s-00d.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
