Pte 31606 Frank Carter

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Frank Carter was born on 01st July 1896 in Liverpool the son of Isaac Carter and his wife Mary Alice (nee Rogers). He was baptised at St Cleopas' Church, Liverpool on the 09th December 1896. At the time of his baptism his parents lived at 49 Byles Street, and his father was employed as a carter. His parents married on the 19th February 1888 at St James' Church, Toxteth. Isaac was a 30 year old dock porter of 9 Newton Street, father William a shoemaker, whilst Mary was aged 28, same address, father William a smith. Frank was the fifth of their eight children. He had older siblings Mary Alice, Isaac, Thomas Henry, and William George, and younger brothers Herbert Frederick, Alfred, and Albert Edward.

The family moved a lot, based on information from the children's baptisms, addresses included Graham Street, Smith Street, Hawkestone Street, Fairview Place, and Byles Street.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 17 Fair View Place, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Frank is shown as being 4 years of age and is living with his parents and 6 siblings. His father, Isaac, is shown as a Dock labourer born in Liverpool in 1858, whilst his mother was born in Liverpool in 1860. His siblings, all born in Liverpool, are listed as; Mary Alice born 1889, Isaac b.1891, Thomas b.1892, William b.1895, Frederick b.1899 and Alfred b.1900. There is also a boarder living at the property. 

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved to 29 Twiss Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Frank is now aged 14 and is described as a grocers errand boy. He is living with his parents, his father, 53, is still employed as a dock labourer, his mother is 51. They have been married for 23 years and have had 8 children. He has 6 siblings in the household who are listed as; Isaac now aged 20 and a domestic gardener, Thomas an 18 year old fishmongers assistant,  William George a 16 year old grocers assistant, Herbert Frederick a 12 year old is at school and working as a newsboy, Alfred aged 10 and at school and Albert Edward born in 1904 also a schoolboy. His sister Mary Alice is working as a domestic cook in Normanton Avenue, Toxteth Park. 

He originally enlisted in Liverpool in August 1915 joining the 22nd Reserve Battalion as Private No 31606 alongside his brother William George Carter 31607. He likely shipped to France in the spring of 1916. Both brothers had switched to the 19th Battalion by the time they left England. The first day of the Battle of the Somme, 01st July 1916, was Frank's 20th birthday.

He was serving with the 19^th Battalion, The King's Liverpool Regiment when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 20, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

He likely shipped to France in the spring of 1916.

The first day of the Battle of the Somme, 01st July 1916, was Frank's 20th birthday.

The Battalion diary records the events of the day:

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.       

Frank's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.” 

Frank's brother William George was also killed in action on 30th July 1916 with the 19th Battalion K.L.R. Initially declared as Missing, William George is also commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, alongside his younger brother Frank. 

Frank's death and William being posted as missing in the same action were reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 01st September 1916 under the header:

THREE BROTHERS

Private F. Carter (20), K.L.R., whose mother resides at 25 Beresford Street, Dingle, Liverpool, has been killed in action. He enlisted in August 1915. A brother Private W. Carter (21) also of the K.L.R., is posted as missing on the same day as the first named was killed. A third brother is serving in the same regiment in France.

The third brother is Herbert Frederick Carter 406098 K.L.R., later Pte. 041320 Army Ordnance Corps. He survived the war.

Eldest brother Isaac attested in December 1915, and was placed on Army Reserve until he was mobilised in July 1917 as a Driver with the Royal Field Artillery, then posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner. There is no evidence that he served overseas. He was discharged in February 1919 as no longer physically fit, due to ear infections aggravated by war service, and received a 20% disability pension.

Frank left a will which he signed on 10th March 1916 whilst serving with the 22nd Battalion. He left the whole of his property to his mother Mary Alice Carter of 25 Beresford Road, Liverpool. She also received his Soldiers Effects and Pension, including a War Gratuity of £3 and a combined pension for both sons of 14 shillings a week.

His father died in 1920 aged 62, and his mother in 1935 at the age of 76, still living at 23 Beresford Street.

Frank is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall Panel 10 Right and Panel 11 Right.

His brother, William George, is also commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 9 Right. 

We currently have no further information on Frank Carter, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.