Ernest Carter
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was born in 1897, the son of Reuben and Charlotte Carter. Reuben was born in Nottingham in 1841 (A/M/J) and Charlotte was also born in Nottingham; there is a record of a Reuben Carter marrying a Charlotte Fisher in Nottingham in 1893 (A/M/J). According to the 1911 Census when they had been married for 18 years they had had three children of whom only two had survived, Florence (b. 1895) and Ernest (b. 1897). In 1901 Reuben (59), a commissionaire, and Charlotte (45), a hosiery machinist, were living at 66 Lamartine Street, St Ann's, with their two children Florence (6) and Ernest (4). The family was still living at the same address in 1911 but only Charlotte (56), Florence (16) a lace hand, and Ernest (14) an errand lad for a ladies' outfitter, were at home on the night of the census. Reuben has not yet been traced on the census. Reuben died in 1913 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 72. Florence completed a form for the army in 1919 listing Ernest's surviving relatives; their parents were dead and Florence was now married and living at 34 Gordon Street, Small Heath, Birmingham. She gave her married name as 'Lockley'; there is a marriage record of a Florence Carter marrying James S Blockley (sic) in Nottingham in 1919 (A/M/J).
He attested in the Territorial Force, Imperial Service Battalion (4 years service in the UK) on 11 May 1914, aged 17 years 3 months. He enlisted along with his friend, Private Ernest Owen [Owen] Smith, another Dako Boy (service number 2087) who was also to serve with the 1/7th Battalion (Robin Hoods) Sherwood Foresters. He was on home service from 11 May 1914-27 February 1915 (293 days) and served in France from 28 February 1915 (Medal Roll: 25 February 1915) until his death the same year (228 days). He was sick from 2 October 1915 until 10 October (rheumatic fever) when he was able to return to duty, but was killed in action three days later on 13 October in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Owen Smith was killed in the same action. Neither Ernest nor Owen has a known grave and both are commemorated on the Loos Memorial. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest's personal effects comprised a medical health ticket, two prayer books, a testament and photos and these were returned sometime after 14 February 1916 to his sister, Florence, c/o 68 Lamartine Street. His sister, Florence, was his sole legatee. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 5 November 1915: Carter. Killed in action, October 13th, Private Ernest Carter, 1/7th Robin Hoods, the beloved and only son of the late Reuben and Charlotte Carter of 56 Lamartine street. Christ will link the broken chain close when we meet again. From his sorrowing sister Florrie.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 18 November 1915, photograph with caption: ‘Pte E Carter, 1/7th Robin Hoods, 56 Lamartine St., killed in action Oct. 13th. He and his friend, Pte EO Smith, died together.’ His death was recorded in the Boys Brigade Gazette of March 1916.
