SERGEANT DANIEL VALENTINE CARTER
3575 – 1st Tunnelling Company
In 1885 at Goulburn, NSW Daniel Valentine Carter was born, the son of Michael and Sarah Ellen M. (formerly Grooms) Carter who had married the previous year. Val, as he was known, was working as a Miner with the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Ltd at Mount Morgan, Queensland. In the latter part of 1915 a recruiting drive for volunteers to join the Miners’ Corps took place.
At the Rockhampton Recruiting Office on December, 28, 1915 Val enlisted to join. The thirty year old unmarried miner passed his medical examination and his Application form shows he was 185cms (6ft ¾ins) tall and weighed 76.3kgs (168lbs) with a chest measurement of 99cms (39ins). Forms of Attestation were completed adding a fresh complexion with grey eyes and brown hair completed his description. Religion was given as Roman Catholic. His mother Mrs Sarah Carter of Reservoir Street, Portland, NSW was named next-of-kin. When all was completed he was sworn in.
The Capricornian on January 15, 1916 published the names of the recent recruits which is abridged to Tunnellers only here:
Basic training as a Private commenced with the 11th Depot Battalion at Enoggera Camp, Brisbane until February 2, 1916 when he was transferred as a Sapper to the 6th Field Company Engineers section remaining until March 15, 1916. He was promoted to Acting Corporal the following day and placed with the 4th Tunnelling Company – Australian Mining Corps. Further promotion to Acting Sergeant came on April 1st and his rank was confirmed as Sergeant on May 16, 1916. His regimental number was 3575.
The recruits formed part of the No 4 Company which embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713 ton transport Warilda departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916.
Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front at Perham Downs’ camp.
The troops proceeded overseas to France on August 29, 1916 arriving at the 2nd Aust. Divisional Base Depot. Sergeant Carter was attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company on September 25, 1916.
Sergeant was taken sick to the 1/1 Highland Casualty Clearing Station and admitted with Lumbago, his treatment lasting until February 17 when discharged and he rejoined his unit the next day.
On April 9, 1917 Sergeant Carter was wounded in action in the field by enemy shell fire. Initially treated at the 4th Field Ambulance for a gunshot wound to right thigh he was then transferred to the 10th C.C.S. Two days later was conveyed on A.T. 8 to the 2nd Aust General Hospital at Wimereux and treated for several days. The hospital ship Princess Elizabeth transported him from Boulogne to England entering the Military Hospital at Woking on April 17, 1917.
His mother was regretfully advised on April 24, 1917 that her son had been wounded but no further information had been received to pass on to her.
By May 1, 1917 she received advice he was a patient in the Military Hospital, Woking, England and how she could write to him. Further correspondence arrived dated May 11 saying he was improving but the following Telegram was sent on May 31, 1917.
By early June Mrs Carter received the following Telegram:
Another Telegram was sent in July, 1917.
It was not until August 28, 1917 that official correspondence was mailed on the standard form stating that his condition was improving and the military contact system. The last Telegram advising of his recovery was sent mid September, 1917.
An audit of his records found he was still in hospital on December 7, 1917 following a report.
In December, 1917 the Roll of Honour Board of employees of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Ltd who enlisted was publicly displayed. The name D.V. Carter appears on the Honour Board.
On January 10, 1918 Sergeant Carter was transferred to convalesce at the 3rd Aust. Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. A Kit Inspection found it to contain all clothing and requisites that had been issued to him. Four days later on January 14, an exchange was made with his pair of woollen breeches on account of the ‘wounds.’ When released from the Auxiliary Hospital his Kit was re-issued with 1 each of the following: drawers, holdall, housewife, flannel shirt, woollen socks, towel, pair trousers and a sea kit bag.
The next day, January 15, he reported to the No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth and another Kit Inspection took place on January 19, 1918.
On January 31, 1918 Sergeant Carter departed on the transport A8 RMS Osterley on his journey home to Australia for discharge as medically unfit, due to gunshot wounds to his right Thigh and Knee.
His mother received written advice dated February 4, 1918 that her son was now reported as convalescent and on April 3 was told of his imminent return to Australia.
The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd Military District) on April 15, 1918 and he was sent onto Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) for discharge.
Military Discharge due to wounds took place on May 16, 1918.
In 1919 he was living at Pinbarren Creek, Cooran, Qld as a farmer and he married Ruth Secomb in 1921.
For serving his King and Country Sergeant 3575 Daniel Valentine Carter, 1st Tunnelling Company was awarded the British War Medal (18133) and the Victory Medal (17702).
River Road, Cooroy, Qld was their residence between 1925 and 1936. In 1937 they were living at Eddy Street, Thornleigh, NSW but no occupation is noted. His mother was residing at Central Avenue, Thornleigh, NSW.
The name Don Carter of “Cooroy” Qld appears in the Sydney A.E.M.M.B.C. and Tunnellers Anzac Day Reunion Register dated 1934 onwards. It was during his time at Thornleigh, NSW he either marched in the Sydney Anzac Day parade or attended their Annual Luncheon.
A Statement of his service was sent to the Repatriation Department, Brisbane on September 10, 1928.
In the 1940’s and until 1949 he was at Carters Ridge, Cooroy, Qld.
Daniel Valentine Carter died on April 12, 1950 aged 65 years. His grave is located in the Cooroy Cemetery, Roman Catholic Section, Line B, Grave 87.
© Donna Baldey 2010