Carter, Howard Douglas

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Howard Douglas Carter

M2/134433, Private, P Seige Park, Army Service Corps (MT)
Killed in action, 10 July 1917, aged 22
No known grave (Nieuport Memorial, Belgium)

CWGC registered (Son of George and Julia Carter, of Shelford Rd, Trumpington, Camb)

Howard Douglas Carter was born at Cambridge on 3 July 1895; he was the son of George Carter and Julia Carter (née Clayton). His brothers were George Reginald Carter, Walter Vernon Carter, Alexander Carter, Harold John Ernest Carter, Thomas Herbert (Bert) Carter, and Stanley Edward Carter. In 1901, the family lived in Cambridge. George Carter was recorded in the census as a whitesmith (tinplate worker) and his eldest son, George Reginald as a shop assistant in the book trade. Howard attended Cambridge Romsey Junior Middle School and Cambridge Brunswick Boys’ School, leaving the latter in November 1908. In 1911, Howard was recorded as an errand boy for an ironmonger and George was still in the book trade, having transferred to Llandudno, lodging in Caroline Street.

It was locally reported that George was joined by three of his brothers in Llandudno: Alexander, Herbert and Howard. All four joined the army: George was called up in 1917 and served in the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Labour Corps; Alexander volunteered for the 8th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1914; and Herbert served in the Army Service Corps. Howard presented himself to the Cambridge recruiting officer on 30 October 1915. His occupation now was as a driver and he was appointed to the Mechanical Transport section of the Army Service Corps. He joined up at No 1 Reserve MT Depot, Grove Park, Lewisham on the following day. He disembarked at Boulogne on 25 May 1916, destined for his first unit: No 8 Section, Heavy Artillery Military Transport (attached 91st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery).

Howard Douglas Carter was killed in action on 10 July 1917 aged 22. A field service death report in Howard’s service record indicates that his death was in Belgium and that his unit was “P” Siege Park attached to XV Corps. On 20 June, the British XV Corps had taken over the French sector of the Belgian coast in preparation of “Operation Hush”. Anticipating the action, the Germans carried out a pre-emptive strike called “Operation Standfest”. British artillery attempted a counter barrage though several of their guns were knocked out. It can reasonably be assumed that Howard Carter was killed at that action because other drivers of P Siege Park were killed on that day and are buried at Coxyde Military Cemetery in Belgium. Howard Carter’s body was never knowingly recovered and he was originally commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France. However, as a result of this research, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is transferring (2018) the name of Howard Carter to the Nieuport Memorial in Belgium.

Known memorials:

  • Nieuport Memorial, Belgium (Addenda Panel)
  • Cambridge War Memorial
  • Llandudno Roll of Honour
  • Llandudno War Memorial
  • Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno

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