Ernest George CARTER

CARTER, Ernest George

Service Number: VX37824
Enlisted: 20 July 1940, Royal Park, Victoria
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/22nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Kaniva, Victoria, 15 June 1919
Home Town: Kaniva, West Wimmera, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Died at sea (POW of Japan - Montevideo Maru), South China Sea, 1 July 1942, aged 23 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Rabaul Memorial, Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Rabaul Memorial, Rabaul Montevideo Maru Memorial
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World War 2 Service

20 Jul 1940: Enlisted Private, VX37824, Royal Park, Victoria
20 Jul 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX37824, 2nd/22nd Infantry Battalion
1 Jul 1942: Involvement Private, VX37824, 2nd/22nd Infantry Battalion, Prisoners of War

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Biography contributed by Craig Tilley

Pte Ernest George Carter, of the A.I.F. who was taken prisoner at Rabaul and died as a prisoner of war on 1st July 1942 aboard the prison ship Montevideo Maru.

Mr and Mrs W Carter of Kaniva received the sad news from the Minister for the Army that their son Private Ernest George Carter A.I.F. prisoner of war in Japanese hands was believed to have died as a prisoner of war on July lst, 1942.

Ernest Carter who was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs W Carter, was aged 22 years at the time of his death. He enlisted in the A.I.F. early in the war, and was stationed at Rabaul with the 2/22nd Battalion. When the Japs swept in a tide into Rabaul Pte Carter, with the remnants of his unit, after fierce resistance, retreated inland. However his feet gave out on him ard he was unable to continue the journey. With 19 other Australians, he was captured in a hospital by the japs.

Pte Carter attended the Kaniva school, and was well known as an excellent horse rider on the flat and over hurdles. He was the owner of Elder Lass a notable hurdler and flat racer with which he attained several successes locally. He was also a keen bicycle rider and a playing member of the Federals Second Football club. He was farming with his father prior to enlistment.

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