Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Person
Linked To
CollectionImage
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Menu
- People
- Places
- Themes
- Surprise Me
Private Ernest Joseph Carter
Description
TitlePrivate Ernest Joseph CarterSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionErnest was born at Deptford, London 22 June 1887 son of Dr Howard B. and Kate E. Carter. He was the fifth of eight children and second son. His brother Francis also served with the British forces and was killed. His father was a surgeon born in Jamaica. Before enlisting Ernest was working as a labourer for D. Hunter at Greenpark. His last New Zealand address was 58 Papanui Road, Christchurch. He did admit on his attestation that he had been imprisoned at Christchurch but it can not have been for serious offense as he was accepted. He was 5ft 8in tall with a sallow complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He also had four tattoos on various parts of his body; an eagle, a fan, an anchor and a heart.
Ernest enlisted on 15 December 1915 and was assigned to the 12th Reinforcements of the Canterbury Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal on 10 March 1916 and transferred to the Machine Gun detachment on 10 April 1916. He embarked for overseas on 1st May 1916 bound for Suez and arrived there on 9 June, but after barely a month he embarked from Alexandria this time to Southampton and arrived on 7 August. He marched into Sling Camp two days later but had reverted to rank of Private. On 18 September he was posted to the Machine Gun depot at Grantham and proceeded overseas with them on 31st October. He was posted to the strength at Etaples on 13 November 1916 and to serve with the No.1 Machine Gun Company. Ernest was killed in action on 7 June, aged 29, during the battle for Messines. The No.1 Company had been detailed to advance with the 1st Brigade. He is buried in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Greenpark Memorial.
CWGC Cemetery locale history: The cemetery was begun in December 1914 by four battalions of the 5th Division and was called at first Wulverghem Dressing Station Cemetery. It was used until June 1917, and again in September and October 1918, and at the Armistice it contained 162 graves, the present Plot I. Graves were then brought in from the surrounding battlefields and the following smaller burial grounds:- Auckland Cemetery, Messines, on the North bank of the Douve between Messines and Wulverghem, contained the graves of twelve New Zealand soldiers (including nine of the 2nd Auckland Regiment) who fell on the 7th June, 1917. Cornwell Cemetery, Messines, 150 metres West of Auckland Cemetery, contained the graves of 21 soldiers from the United Kingdom (including 20 of the 1st D.C.L.I.) who fell in December, 1914-January, 1915. Frenchman's Farm, Wulverghem, nearly 600m north of the village, contained several groups of graves; and in them were buried 29 soldiers from the United Kingdom and one French soldier who fell in 1914-15. Neuve-Eglise North Cemetery was on the Neuve Eglise-Lindenhoek road. It contained the graves of 20 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell on the 2nd and 3rd September, 1918, and of whom 16 belonged to the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers. Neuve-Eglise Railway Halte(or Railway Siding) Cemetery was at the light railway station on the South side of the village. It contained the graves of 14 soldiers from the United Kingdom (including seven of Queen Victoria's Rifles) who fell on the 5th January, 1915. These formed Plots II-V. Within these later plots almost the whole period of the war is represented, in particular the defence of the Kemmel front in April 1918 and the final advance of September 1918. There are now 1,010 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 352 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to two casualties believed to be buried among them and to seven others buried elsewhere whose graves were destroyed in the fighting of 1917-18. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.First NameErnest JosephLast NameCarterFamilySingleSon of Dr Howard B. and Kate E. CarterDate of Birth22 June 1887Place of BirthDeptford, LondonDate of Death7 June 1917Place of DeathMessines BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death30
Ernest enlisted on 15 December 1915 and was assigned to the 12th Reinforcements of the Canterbury Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal on 10 March 1916 and transferred to the Machine Gun detachment on 10 April 1916. He embarked for overseas on 1st May 1916 bound for Suez and arrived there on 9 June, but after barely a month he embarked from Alexandria this time to Southampton and arrived on 7 August. He marched into Sling Camp two days later but had reverted to rank of Private. On 18 September he was posted to the Machine Gun depot at Grantham and proceeded overseas with them on 31st October. He was posted to the strength at Etaples on 13 November 1916 and to serve with the No.1 Machine Gun Company. Ernest was killed in action on 7 June, aged 29, during the battle for Messines. The No.1 Company had been detailed to advance with the 1st Brigade. He is buried in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Greenpark Memorial.
CWGC Cemetery locale history: The cemetery was begun in December 1914 by four battalions of the 5th Division and was called at first Wulverghem Dressing Station Cemetery. It was used until June 1917, and again in September and October 1918, and at the Armistice it contained 162 graves, the present Plot I. Graves were then brought in from the surrounding battlefields and the following smaller burial grounds:- Auckland Cemetery, Messines, on the North bank of the Douve between Messines and Wulverghem, contained the graves of twelve New Zealand soldiers (including nine of the 2nd Auckland Regiment) who fell on the 7th June, 1917. Cornwell Cemetery, Messines, 150 metres West of Auckland Cemetery, contained the graves of 21 soldiers from the United Kingdom (including 20 of the 1st D.C.L.I.) who fell in December, 1914-January, 1915. Frenchman's Farm, Wulverghem, nearly 600m north of the village, contained several groups of graves; and in them were buried 29 soldiers from the United Kingdom and one French soldier who fell in 1914-15. Neuve-Eglise North Cemetery was on the Neuve Eglise-Lindenhoek road. It contained the graves of 20 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell on the 2nd and 3rd September, 1918, and of whom 16 belonged to the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers. Neuve-Eglise Railway Halte(or Railway Siding) Cemetery was at the light railway station on the South side of the village. It contained the graves of 14 soldiers from the United Kingdom (including seven of Queen Victoria's Rifles) who fell on the 5th January, 1915. These formed Plots II-V. Within these later plots almost the whole period of the war is represented, in particular the defence of the Kemmel front in April 1918 and the final advance of September 1918. There are now 1,010 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 352 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to two casualties believed to be buried among them and to seven others buried elsewhere whose graves were destroyed in the fighting of 1917-18. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.First NameErnest JosephLast NameCarterFamilySingleSon of Dr Howard B. and Kate E. CarterDate of Birth22 June 1887Place of BirthDeptford, LondonDate of Death7 June 1917Place of DeathMessines BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death30
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageGreenpark War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryWulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, BelgiumGreenpark War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingLabourerRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Machine Gun BattalionEnlistment Details15 December 1915Service Number12100 / 27668Rank Last HeldPrivateEmbarkation1st May 1916TransportUlimaroa
Attribution
Taken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license.
Private Ernest Joseph Carter. Selwyn Stories, accessed 16/01/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/489
