Alfred James Carter Private 15730, 7th Battalion, "D" Company, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Monday, 27th September 1915 around Corons de Pekin, North of the Fosse 8 Dump, Loos, France, aged 26. Alfred Knight (below) was killed in the same action. The 7th was a battalion predominantly consisting of sportsmen who enlisted as “Pals” following the example of Edgar Mobbs, a rugby international, who raised a company of 250 sportsmen and fans into the Battalion. He enlisted with his brother Arthur (below) on 14th September 1914 at Northampton and posted to the 7th Battalion the following day. His Attestation Form is marked “Mobbs” at the top, as was his brother’s, and it is very likely their intention had been to serve together in the 7th Battalion. After training in Shoreham and later Woking, he arrived in France on 1st September 1915 and was killed less than 4 weeks later. They were part of the 73rd Brigade, 24th Division, which was being held in reserve at the outbreak of the Battle of Loos but was then forced marched into the Battle by 1pm on the 25th September with orders to reinforce Fosse 8. By the evening of the 26th, the men of 73rd Brigade holding the positions east of Fosse 8 are in an exhausted condition, having no food, water or sleep for 48 hours. The 7th Northamptonshires were forced back to cottages at Corons de Pekin, north of the Fosse 8 Dump and during this action Private Carter probably lost his life, together with Alfred Knight (below). He was reported as “”missing” in the St Mary’s Parish Magazine. A neighbour enquired for further information from the Army on 13th November 1915, as Private Carter was one of 15 men reported missing on the 27th September, but had not been seen wounded. Born St Mary's, Northampton. Prior to enlisting he was a mechanic. Son of Benjamin and Leah Carter, of 175, Southampton Road. Far Cotton, Northampton. He was engaged to be married; his fiancée was Beatrice M. Swan of “Glenroy”, 23 Hester Street, Northampton. One of six brothers, four of which were lost in the War.

Commemorated Loos Memorial, France Panel 91 to 93.

Loos Memorial - Panel 92

Loos Memorial - Panel 92

Newspaper article November 6th, 1915

Loos Memorial - Panel 92