I found Victor Charles’s Obituary when I was researching local Servicemen in the Chester Chronicle and realised that to my knowledge he is not remembered locally, so I hope that he will at some point have his name on a WW2 War Memorial so he will be remembered, as he should be for his sacrifice for us all.
Victor Charles Carter was born in the September quarter of 1919, his birth registered in the Hawarden Registration District of Hawarden, Flintshire (Hawarden Vol. 11b Page 330v), the son of Samuel Edward & Marguerite Sarah Carter (nee Stockwell), who had married in the Holy Trinity Church, Stroud, Gloucestershire on the 28th of January,1914.
Samuel Edward Carter,25, a Bachelor, was a Boat-Builder, his residence was The Thrupp, Father Charles Carter, Painter, his bride, Marguerite Sarah Stockwell, 23 and a Spinster lived at Bath Road, Rodborough, her father was Walter William Stockwell, Cloth Worker. Their witnesses were Walter William Stockwell and Julia Jane Stockwell. They married by Licence.
Victor Charles’s father Samuel Edward Carter is seen on the 1911 census living at Court Cottages, Thrupp, Stroud, Gloucestershire. (3 rooms), with his parents, Charles & Mary Carter. Charles Carter was head of the household and was a House Painter, (Builder), age 65 and born in Rodbrough, Gloucs, Mary Carter, 65 tells us that they had been married 38 years and 6 children had been born to them, all still living. Samuel Edward Carter,22, and single was a Steam Launcher Builder, born Thrupp, Gloucs. Also living in the household was Samuel Edward’s sister Alice Elizabeth Laburn*, 37, born Stroud, who tells us that she had been married for 15 years, 2 children had been born to her and they were still living, these being Doris Alice Laburn, 14, and Mary Lillian Laburn, 13, both born Thrupp, Gloucs.
* Taken from the CARTER Family Tree (Raymond CARTER) https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/155103662/person/242050033939/story – Many thanks to him.
Life Story Summary
When James Henry Laburn was born in June 1876, his father, Edwin, was 31 and his mother, Julia, was 28. He married Alice Elizabeth Carter and they had two children together. He then married Alice Maud Mary Sones on 29 June 1921 in Wentworth, Ontario, Canada. He died on 28 June 1941 in Ontario, Canada, at the age of 65, and was buried in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Life Story Summary
When Alice Elizabeth Carter was born in July 1873, her father, Charles, was 27, and her mother, Mary, was 28. She married James Henry Laburn in Stroud, Gloucestershire. They had two children during their marriage. She died on 29 October 1916 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 43.
James Henry Laburn sailed from Bristol to Canada on the 15th September 1910, arriving Quebec, Canada on the 21st September 1910, therefore missing the 1911 census. – (Thanks to Raymond Carter)
Marguerite Sarah Stockwell had been born on the 13th January 1891 and Baptised on the 29th April 1891 in Rodborough Parish Church. The Baptism shows her name as Margaret Sarah. Her parents were Walter William & Kate Orchard Stockwell (nee Heath), who had married in the September quarter of 1887 in Stroud, Gloucs. (Stroud Vol. 6a Page 563).
Marguerite Sarah is seen on the 1911 census living at 6, Bath Road Terrace, Nr. Stroud, Gloucestershire. (5 rooms) with her parents and siblings. Walter Stockwell, 50, was head of the household and was a Stow Man (Cloth Factory), and had been born in Rodborough, Gloucs. Kate his wife, 44 tells us that they had been married for 23 years and 5 children had been born, but sadly 1 died, she and Julia Stockwell had been born in Stroud, Gloucs. Julia, 21, was single and a Picker at the Cloth Factory. Margurite, 20 and single was a Burler* in the Cloth Factory, Jack Stockwell, 10, had both been born in Rodborogh, Gloucs.
*A Burler was a Cloth Finisher in the Cloth Trade, a Burler (Mender) was a Skilled Textile Finisher , according to the book “A Dictionary of Old Trades, Titles, and Occupations by Colin Waters.
By 1914, when their first child Cyril Edward was born in the December quarter of that year, his birth was registered in Chester (Chester Vol. 8a Page 658), but when and why they moved to this area I do not know, so any information would be gratefully received.
As I have stated before, Victor Charles was born in the Hawarden Registration District as was Ronald W. Carter, in the September quarter of 1927 (Hawarden Vol.11b Page 314). So they had moved on from Chester, although, Hawarden was also under Chester at one point, so they may not have moved very far.
The 1921 census which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, shows the family living in Victoria Road, Saltney. Samuel Edward Carter was head of the household, he was 32 years and 6 months old, born in Thrupp, Gloucestershire and a Ships Plater for J. Crichton & Co. Ltd., Saltney Shipyard, Saltney. His wife, Marguerite Sarah Carter was 30 years and 6 months old, born in Rodborough, Gloucestershire and doing ‘At Home.’ Cyril Edward Carter was 6 years and 8 monhs old, he had been born in Saltney, Cheshire and Victor Charles Carter, was 1 year and 11 months old, he had been born in Stonebridge, Flintshire. This is the first time we see him on a census.
By the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, they were living at 13 Victoria Road, Chester, Hawarden R.D., Flintshire, Wales. This source gives us the dates of birth. Samuel Edward Carter had been born on the 8th of January 1889, Marguerite Sarah Carter had been born on the 13th of January 1891, Cyril Edward Carter’s birthday was the 30th of November 1914 and Ronald Walter’s was the 11th of July 1927.
According to the Chester Chronicle dated the 20th of May 1944, Victor Charles had joined the R.A.F. in the July of 1938, when he was 19 years old, which explains his absence on the 1939 National Register. He was promoted to Sergt-Instructor when he was 21 and commissioned a Pilot Office in Canada in June 1943. When he returned to England he attained the rank of Flying Officer. The newspaper article is below and gives more on his working life before he enlisted.
I downloaded the Squadron Number 138 Summary of Events and Victor Charles was mentioned twice, once when he was transferred in from 31 Base (Page 140) on the 11th of May 1944 and when he was reported “Killed in Flying Accident” on the 17th of May 1944 (Page 145). If you would like a copy, please contact the website.
Victor Charles Carter in the UK, World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 tells us that he was an Flying Officer at Tempsford, Bedfordshire in the 138 Squadron of Bomber Command, and his plane crash landed at Great Barford, Beds, due to an engine fire during circuit practice at Tempsford, the rest of the Crew survived.
Victor Charles Carter is remembered on the website: – http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=LK736
And also on https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/204524/
Aircraft – Handley Page Halifax VI, Serial Number – LK736, Markings NF-
Reason for Loss – Crash-landed after an engine fire at Great Barford, ENE of Bedford.
Samuel Edward Carter in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 – CARTER, Samuel Edward of 36, Victoria Road, East Saltney, Chester died 5th March 1969. Probate 26 March.
I found a death and burial of a Margaret Carter, who was buried on the 9th October 1958 age 67 years. Marguerite Sarah had been baptised as Margaret Sarah, so perhaps this is the right lady, as he address was 36, Victoria Road, Saltney, the same as on the Probate of Samuel Edward Carter above.
They were both alive to bear the grief of losing their dear son, he should be remembered for his sacrifice, as he too had hopes and dreams and gave his all for our freedom.
