Herbert Augustine Carter

Rode back alone to save a wounded soldier close to Jidballi.

Herbert Augustine Carter was born in Exeter on 26 May 1874, the son of a clergyman later associated with St Erth in Cornwall. He obtained a commission in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1897 and served in the Tirah campaign. Transferring to the Indian Army, he became involved in operations in Somaliland with the King's African Rifles.

On 19 December 1903, near Jidballi, a mounted reconnaissance force withdrew before a much larger opposing body. Private Jai Singh had lost his horse and was being closely pursued. Carter rode back alone for about four hundred yards. The wounded man could not mount easily, and Carter made repeated attempts before getting him onto his own horse. He then carried him clear of the pursuers.

An initial Distinguished Service Order was cancelled when the Victoria Cross was approved instead. Carter received the cross at Wadamago in January 1905. He later commanded the Indian contingent in Somaliland and served with the Egyptian Army. In 1911 he married Helen Ware and returned to regimental duties in India.

During the First World War he served with British training battalions and then the 40th Pathans in France. Sent to British East Africa late in 1915, he arrived already ill with fever but marched with his men towards Mwele Mdogo. He died on 13 January 1916. His body was returned to Cornwall for burial at St Erth, and his medals are preserved at Bodmin.

Official Victoria Cross citation

During a reconnaissance near Jidballi, on 19th December, 1903, when the two Sections of the Poona Mounted Infantry and the Tribal Horse were retiring before a Force of Dervishes which outnumbered them by thirty to one, Lieutenant Carter rode back alone, a distance of four hundred yards, to the assistance of Private Jai Singh, who had lost his horse, and was closely pursued by a large number of the enemy, and, taking the Sepoy up behind him, brought him safely away. When Lieutenant Carter reached Private Jai Singh, the Sections were several hundred yards off. In consequence of the above, the appointment of this Officer to the Distinguished Service Order, which was notified in the London Gazette of 7th June, 1904, is cancelled.

(The London Gazette of 9 December 1904, Numb. 27742, p. 8449)