Lost medals of Albert Carter

Albert Budd CARTER, 57th Infantry Battalion.

Thanks to the hard work of Lieutenant Colonel Glyn Llanwarne and his team of skilled researchers, at Lost Medals Australia, Budd Carter’s medals have now found their rightful home.

Albert Budd Carter, born in Sunderland, England had previously served with the British Navy before settling in Australia. He married Jane Bishop in 1905 and when he volunteered to serve with the first AIF in April 1917 they were living in Yarraville, handy to the Port of Melbourne for a stoker / seaman.

Private Carter served with the 57th Infantry Battalion joining them in France on Christmas Day 1917. In April 1918 he was seriously wounded in the arm by a high explosive shell, and evacuated to England for treatment, rejoining his comrades in the field early September.

Sadly just weeks later Private Carter was killed in action on 29 September 1918, during the operation known as the Battle of St Quentin.

Albert’s service medals were sent to his wife Jane in the 1920’s as would have the commemorative ‘Next of Kin Memorial Plaque’ (Dead man’s penny), the commemorative scroll and Kings’s message; but in 2014 the medals were passed on to Lt Col Llanwarne, having lost their way.

His team of researchers were able to successfully locate the closest descendant, in Queensland who has since fully researched Albert Carter’s story of service and commemorated his death by visiting his grave at the Bellicourt British Cemetery just last year. His headstone is inscribed

"Sunshine passes, shadows fall, love and remembrance outlasts all"

Thank you to Graham Carter for sharing this story with us.

Read more ...

• Service record: CARTER, Albert Budd
• Roll of Honour
• Roll of Honour circular
• Lost Medals Australia, Albert Budd Carter
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission, cemetery details