No.89960, Sapper, Frank James CARTER
Aged 22
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Born in 1895 (1st qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:326) son of James Henry and Mildred Elizabeth CARTER (née HOWLETT)
1901 census...Aged 6, he was at 41 Whiting Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his father James CARTER [29] painter's labourer; his mother Mildred [25]; brother Reginald [4] and sister Phylls [1].All were born in Bury St.Edmunds. 1911 census...Aged 16, a carpenter, he was still at 41 Whiting Street with his parents, brother Reinald [14] a houseboy and sister Violet [3]. the censu form records 6 children borne by Mildred, 3 stlll living and 4 dead ?.Certainly Frank, Regnald and Violet survived, Phyllis died in 1906 and despite Frank's Army statements, Frederick died in 1908.There was another daughter, Edith Hilda born 1902 but there is no other trace of her. |
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He enlisted in the 5th Suffolks (TF) #1225 in Bury St.Edmunds on 16th October 1911. He gave his age as 17 ears 7 mo ths, a carpenter of 41 Whiting Street, Bury St.Edmund, in the employ of Messrs Robert Boby, Bury St.Edmunds. He was 5 feet 5.5 inches tall, chest 29.5 to 32 inches. Next of kin his father James Henry CARTER of 41 Whiting Street, Bury St Edmunds On 28th April 1912 he was discharged to join the 3rd Suffolks He enlisted on 29th April 1912 in Ipswich in the Suffolk Regiment # 8524. He gave his age as 18 years 3 mo ths, a carpenter born in Bury St.Edmunds, serving in the 5th Suffolks (TF). His next o kin were father Frank Jame CARTER of 41 Whiting Street, Bury St.Edmunds, mother Mildred and brother Reginald Ernest.osted to 3rd Battalion, Suffolks. He was 5 feet 4.5 inches tall, weighed 106 lbs, chest 29.5 to 33 inches, grey eyes, dark har, Church of England. On 9th September his CO replying to a letter from the 1st Norfolks had no problems with him enlisting in the Norfolk Regiment, he was of good character. He enlisted in Ipswich on 10th September 1912, serving in the 5th Suffolks (Territorials),asking to go to the Norfolk Regt. He gave his age as 18 years 7 months, a carpenter, born in Bury St.Edmunds. He gave hs next of kin as ;father James Henry CARTER of 41 Whiting Street, Bury St.Edmunds, mother Mildred, brothers Frederick and Reginald. He was 5 feet 4.5 inches tall, weighed 118 lbs and chest 31.5 to 35 inches, blue eyes, brown hair, Church of England As 8708, he joined the 1st Norfolks at Aldershot on 12-9-1912. Appointed Unpaid Lance Corporal 12th June 1913 and lost that rank on 13th December 1913. He was discharged, no longer fit for war service, on 26th July 1914. On the 17th July the Officer i/c Military Hospital, Belfast sent a note to the OC 1st Norfolks stating that the "Documents of No 8708 Pte F Carter , 1st Norfolk Regt are returned to you as he is not in fit condition to sign". The officer in charge of his case added that Pte F Carter was not in a fit mental state to sign any document in connection with his discharge from the service. In June 1914 at Holywood he was diagnosed with mental stupor, no definite cause being assigned, no family history. He had threatened to throw himself out of a window. Occasionally refusing food, failing to recognise persons and being at times incoherent and suffering depression. The discharge document states that he was a very good military character, a smart and inelligednt lad before his illness. Whatever caused his illness appears to have ceased as he enlisted again during the war. No details have been found of this period of service, notably, this time not in the infantry. He was soon enough in France. It is difficult to pin down most Engineering units but this map shows where 89th Coy were working between 14th/24th May 1917, especially on Egret and Mallard trenches.
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