Nelson Victor Carter

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Grave/memorial at Royal Irish Rifles Churchyard, Laventie, France. Plot VI. Row C. Grave 17.

Nelson Victor Carter (April 9, 1887 - June 30, 1916) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 29 years old, and a Company Sergeant Major in the 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 30 June 1916 at Boar's Head, Richebourg l'Avoue, France, during an attack Company Sergeant-Major Carter was in command of the fourth wave of the assault. Under intense shell and machine-gun fire he penetrated, with a few men, into the enemy's second line and inflicted heavy casualties with bombs. When forced to retire into the enemy's first line, he captured a machine-gun and shot the gunner with his revolver. Finally, after carrying several wounded men into safety, he was himself mortally wounded and died in a few minutes.

His Victoria Cross is at the Eastbourne Redoubt Museum, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, United Kingdom.