Mervyn William Earle CARTER

Regimental number2313
Place of birthNortham, Western Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressPO, Northam, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 11"
Weight155 lbs
Next of kinFather, W F Carter, c/o Pinjarrah, Western Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date12 May 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name16th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/33/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 25 June 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll48th Battalion
FateDischarged 1 March 1920
Discharge date1 March 1920
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 27 September 1915.

Wounded in action, 16 November 1915 (gun shot wound, left thigh); rejoined unit, 19 November 1915.

Wounded in action, 3 December 1915 (gun shot wound, left forearm), and admitted to 16th Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Cairo, 8 December 1915; to Ras el Tin Convalescent Home, Alexandria, 31 December 1915.

Transferred to 48th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 3 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 2 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 8 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 6 August 1916 (shell shock); admitted to 6th General Hospital, Rouen, 10 August 1916; transferred to England, 26 August 1916, and admitted to King George Hospital, Stanford Street, London SE, 27 August 1916; transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 4 September 1916; marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, from Harefield, 7 September 1916.

Marched out to 12th Training Bn, Codford, 26 October 1916.

Found guilty, Codfords, of being absent without leave from 5 pm, 6 November, till 9.30 pm, 7 November 1916: forfeited 3 days' pay.

Found guilty, 19 April 1917, of wilful neglect to obey Routine Order re Bounds: forfeited 3 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 14 June 1917; rejoined 48th Bn, in the field, 4 July 1917.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, 16 August 1917, on charge of (1) When on Active Service deserting HM Service from 10 pm, 9 August 1917, to 11 August 1917; (2) When under arrest escaping: found guilty of both charges: awarded 7 years' penal servitude.

Admitted to Military Prison, 14 September 1917.

Sentence commuted to 2 years' imprisonment with hard labour, 25 September 1917.

Released from prison, 18 August 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 20 August 1918.

Absent without leave, 12 September 1918.

Court of Enquiry, 11 October 1918, declared 'No 2313 Pte Carter MWE illegally absented himself without leave, 13 September 1918, and is still absent'.

Soldier returned to Australia illegally as a stowaway from Port Said on HT 'Devon', November 1918, and reported in Western Australia, submitted a confession of desertion.

Discharged (services no longer required), Perth, 1 March 1920.

Forfeited all medal entitlements.
Miscellaneous detailsNext of kin incorrectly entered on Embarkation Roll as A.F. CARTER.
Date of death19 May 1992
SourcesNAA: B2455, CARTER Mervyn William Earle