Henry Charles Carter was known as Charles, perhaps to avoid confusion with his father, Henry. He was born in 1880 in the Wylye valley in Wiltshire. His mother died when he was just 15. Charles became a mason and aged 18 he married Kate, who was 12 years his senior. They went on to have two sons. Their eldest son was 16 when the war began and he joined the Royal Marines in 1917. Charles was called up in 1918. He was 38 years old. His record suggest that initially he joined the Wiltshire Regiment, but was later transferred to the Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s), where he was assigned to the 11th Battalion. This battalion was initially formed in January 1917 as a Territorial Battalion for home service, but on May 6th 1918 Charles’ unit was sent out to France under the command of Lieutenant Colonel H.S. Woodhouse. Two days after this his eldest son, Sidney, was listed as ‘Missing – presumed dead.’ In mid-August 1918 the battalion took over a sector of front line east of St. Venant and Robecq and their war began in earnest. The Battle of Albert took place on the 21st and 22nd August, near Ablainzeville. The German forces were beginning a withdrawal in this sector and over the next few days the battalion pursued them, going through Epinette and Lestrem. A number of enemy positions were captured with very little loss and the enemy did not counter attack. On the 24th August it held the British front line as three other divisions from the same Corps launched the next offensive. Sadly Charles was one of those ‘few losses’ from the battle of 21st/22nd August. He died on 23rd August and was buried in plot III. E. 2 of the Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Riviere.

Ann Stancombe