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Private Walter Carter
Description
TitlePrivate Walter CarterSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionWalter was born at Leeston on 26th January 1896, son of John and Margaret Carter, Leeston. Before enlisting Walter worked as a grocer’s assistant at Tuam St in Christchurch for F. Williams. He was previously for some time in the employ of Messrs Chapman Brothers in Southbridge, and made many friends in the district. He was well known as a lad of upright character. Walter had previous military experience with the Rolleston Engineers. He was 5ft 11in tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
Walter enlisted on 27 July 1916 and was assigned to the 19th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He fell ill with measles in camp at Featherstone on 20th September and was admitted to hospital. He was discharged on 4th October. He embarked on 15th November aboard the Tahiti to Devonport arriving on 29 January 1917 and marching into camp at Sling on the same day. He was attached to the Reserve Group and finally left for the front in France on 6th July 1917 arriving in camp at Etaples on the 9th. On 25 July he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry, 13th Company and joined his unit in the field. He was killed in action just on a month later on 6 August 1917, aged only 20. The Regimental history records that the 13th Company occupied the newly established posts to the east and north-east of La Basse Ville and that the enemy's shelling was concentrated mainly on La Basse Ville and its immediate neighbourhood. It was the general opinion that this period in the line was the worst in its experience on an inactive front. For the twelve days in the line the casualties were; one officer and thirty-three other ranks killed, one officer and one hundred and thirteen other ranks wounded, and thirty-five other ranks evacuated to hospital. Walter’s body was not found or identified and his name is inscribed on the Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand Walter is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial, the Doyleston War Memorial and the Southbridge School Roll of Honour.
Cemetery Locale history: Messines (now Mesen) was considered a strong strategic position, not only from its height above the plain below, but from the extensive system of cellars under the Convent known as the 'institution royale'. The village was taken from the 1st Cavalry Division by the German 26th division on 31 October-1 November 1914. An attack by French troops on 6 -7 November was unsuccessful and it was not until the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917 that it was retaken by the New Zealand Division. On 10-11 April 1918, the village fell into German hands once more after a stubborn defence by the South African Brigade, but was retaken for the last time on 28-29 September 1918. The Messines Ridge (New Zealand) Memorial stands within Messines Ridge British Cemetery and commemorates over 800 soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who died in or near Messines in 1917 and 1918 and who have no known grave. This is one of seven memorials in France and Belgium to those New Zealand soldiers who died on the Western Front and whose graves are not known. The memorials are all in cemeteries chosen as appropriate to the fighting in which the men died. Messines Ridge British Cemetery, in which this Memorial stands, occupies ground that belonged to the 'Institution Royale'. It was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefield around Messines and from a number of small burial grounds in the area. The dates of death of those buried here range from October 1914 to October 1918, but the majority died in the fighting of 1917.First NameWalterLast NameCarterFamilySingleSon of John and Margaret Carter, LeestonDate of Birth26 January 1896Place of BirthLeeston, CanterburyDate of Death6 August 1917Place of DeathLa Basse VilleCause of DeathKilled in ActionAge at Death20
Walter enlisted on 27 July 1916 and was assigned to the 19th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He fell ill with measles in camp at Featherstone on 20th September and was admitted to hospital. He was discharged on 4th October. He embarked on 15th November aboard the Tahiti to Devonport arriving on 29 January 1917 and marching into camp at Sling on the same day. He was attached to the Reserve Group and finally left for the front in France on 6th July 1917 arriving in camp at Etaples on the 9th. On 25 July he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry, 13th Company and joined his unit in the field. He was killed in action just on a month later on 6 August 1917, aged only 20. The Regimental history records that the 13th Company occupied the newly established posts to the east and north-east of La Basse Ville and that the enemy's shelling was concentrated mainly on La Basse Ville and its immediate neighbourhood. It was the general opinion that this period in the line was the worst in its experience on an inactive front. For the twelve days in the line the casualties were; one officer and thirty-three other ranks killed, one officer and one hundred and thirteen other ranks wounded, and thirty-five other ranks evacuated to hospital. Walter’s body was not found or identified and his name is inscribed on the Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand Walter is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial, the Doyleston War Memorial and the Southbridge School Roll of Honour.
Cemetery Locale history: Messines (now Mesen) was considered a strong strategic position, not only from its height above the plain below, but from the extensive system of cellars under the Convent known as the 'institution royale'. The village was taken from the 1st Cavalry Division by the German 26th division on 31 October-1 November 1914. An attack by French troops on 6 -7 November was unsuccessful and it was not until the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917 that it was retaken by the New Zealand Division. On 10-11 April 1918, the village fell into German hands once more after a stubborn defence by the South African Brigade, but was retaken for the last time on 28-29 September 1918. The Messines Ridge (New Zealand) Memorial stands within Messines Ridge British Cemetery and commemorates over 800 soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who died in or near Messines in 1917 and 1918 and who have no known grave. This is one of seven memorials in France and Belgium to those New Zealand soldiers who died on the Western Front and whose graves are not known. The memorials are all in cemeteries chosen as appropriate to the fighting in which the men died. Messines Ridge British Cemetery, in which this Memorial stands, occupies ground that belonged to the 'Institution Royale'. It was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefield around Messines and from a number of small burial grounds in the area. The dates of death of those buried here range from October 1914 to October 1918, but the majority died in the fighting of 1917.First NameWalterLast NameCarterFamilySingleSon of John and Margaret Carter, LeestonDate of Birth26 January 1896Place of BirthLeeston, CanterburyDate of Death6 August 1917Place of DeathLa Basse VilleCause of DeathKilled in ActionAge at Death20
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDoyleston War MemorialLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryMessines Ridge British CemeteryDoyleston War MemorialEllesmere County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingGrocer's AssistantRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details27th July 1916Service Number32432 Rank Last HeldPrivateEmbarkation15th November 1916Place of EmbarkationWellingtonTransportTahitiTheatre of WarWestern FrontReinforcement19th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private Walter Carter. Selwyn Stories, accessed 08/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/213
