Carter, Edward John

7286 Private Edward John Carter - 51st Battalion AIF

Edward John Carter was born in Fremantle WA on the 22nd June 1899 to John and Louisa Carter. He was one of several siblings and he grew up and was educated in Fremantle. His father died in Fremantle on the 8th November 1915 and his mother on the 17th September 1916.

The family had lived in the Fremantle region but after his parents died he moved in with his brother in Fraser Street East Fremantle.

During his school years Edward had also served in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces.

On the 26th August 1917 Edward enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording is physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/4 inches tall

Weight - 122lbs;

Chest Measurement - 32-24 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment, Edward was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He spent a few months in the training depot undergoing training in basic infantry work. In Novem er 1917 he was posted to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF.

He embarked with this group from WA on the 13th March 1918 aboard the transport ship Ormonde. The ship arrived at Suez Egypt and Edward and his group were disembarked and had to change ships. They eventually arrived in Southampton England on the 15th May 1918.

After being disembarked Edward and his group were sent to the 5th Training Battalion at Fovant Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He spent a few weeks there and was then reassigned to be joining the 51st Battalion AIF.

Edward had a few months in England and then on the 8th August 1918 was sent to France. He spent a few days at the Australian Infantry Base Depot Camp at Le Havre and was then sent to join his new unit. On the 16th August 1918 Edward was taken on strength of the 51st Battalion.

Edward served at the front for the next month as his unit kept advancing. The 51st Battalion fought their last action of the war on the 18th September 1918. The unit was then withdrawn from the front line for a well deserved rest period.

When the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918, the 51st Battalion were making preparations to return to the front. Instead, once the Germans had withdrawn to their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France.

From February to April 1919 Edward was detached for duty as a Cook with the 4th Army Ordnance unit. He returned to the 51st Battalion in April 1919 and then returned to England on the 20th May 1919.

He was then sent to No.4 Group Camp at Hurdcott and would now have to wait to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.

On the 12th July 1919 he boarded the ship City of Exeter and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 26th August 1919. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 21st September 1919.

After returning from the war, Edward moved north to Geraldton. On the 1st June 1922 in Geraldton he married Kathleen Mary McCarthy and a daughter Jean was born 1923, followed by Ronald in 1924 and John in 1925.

The family lived in Geraldton for the next decade but then moved for a time to Kalgoorlie.

By the 1960's John was back in Fremantle, living at 141 Watkins Street in White Gum Valley.

Edward died aged 73 on the 3rd February 1972 in White Gum Valley. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.

(photo courtesy family ancestry site)