CARTER Jack

Appears on the Army casualties list for Worcestershire.

The following information has been researched and transcribed by The Black Country Society:
Jack Carter came from Stourbridge and he enlisted in the Territorials of the 7th Worcesters. They crossed the Channel to France in January 1940 as part of the 48th (South Midland) Division. Soon afterwards they were transferred to the 2nd Division and posted to the ‘Gort Line, the advanced position of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). After months of waiting and training they were faced with the German invasion of France and Belgium which started on the 10th May. They advanced through Belgium and formed a defensive line on the River Dyle east of Brussels. From the 20th May they were under continuous pressure from the German forces and forced back forty miles to the improvised Escaut Line. At Guignies near Tournai they were caught by heavy shell fire and suffered serious casualties. The Worcesters were then ordered south east to protect the flank of the BEF. On the 25th they reached Givenchy and the La Bassee Canal, where they were attacked by Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division. ‘A’ Company was overwhelmed and the other forward Company trapped. Then came the order to fall back on Dunkirk. Only about 400 men thoroughly exhausted men reached safety by the 30th May, just half of the complement of 800. Of the rest, 250 were killed or wounded and 150 taken prisoner. Private Jack Carter was killed in action during the period from 21st to 28th May 1940.

Jack Carter has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Dunkirk Memorial.