Captain Gerald Mosman Blakeney Carr MBE
24th Battalion, AIF
by Robert Simpson
Gerald Mosman Blakeney Carr was born on 10th January 1888 at the Bank of N.S.W. in Fitzroy Melbourne; the second of four children to Alfred Blakeney Carr and Jane Margaret May. Alfred was born in Ireland in1845 and married Jane on 18th August 1880 in Hobart Tasmania. It is not known where Jane was born; only that it was in 1848. Gerald had two brothers and a sister. His eldest brother died at 4 years old. At some time, Alfred had migrated to Australia and was living in Queensland in the years 1868, 1869 and 1870 as he was recorded in the Queensland Police Gazette of those years with something to do with the Magistrate at Clermont. Why is not detailed. In 1872 Alfred applied for probate as his father had passed away intestate in Ireland in 1869 at the age of 71. His father, Frederick Carr was listed as residing in Tullamore, Kings County, Ireland and was listed as having been in the Royal Irish Constabulary. In 1876 Alfred purchased some land at Millchester. Sometime after that he had moved to Tasmania and married Jane, then they had moved to Victoria where in the 1903 and 1909 Electoral Rolls they are found in Fitzroy, Melbourne at 213 Smith St, and he was a bank manager. For a family with unusual names, they are hard to find any information on. Nothing is known about Gerald (apart from his service records below) until the 1909 Electoral Roll at the age of 21, where he is listed as living with his parents and was an architect. By the 1914 roll he was living in Faversham, Williams Rd, Hawksburn and was still an architect.
Gerald attested on 18th December 1914 as a Cadet and went through the 4th Officers School at Broadmeadows. He had previously done 3 years in the school cadets. His pay book number was 24719. As an architect he had done his apprenticeship with Sydney Smith & Ogg for 5 years and had 8.5 years experience. He listed his father as next of kin and they were living at “Hiawatha” New South Head Road, Rose Bay, Sydney. He enlisted at Melbourne. He was described as being 26 years and 11 months old, 5 foot 9.25 inches tall, weighed 11 stone 2 pounds, chest of 34.5 to 38 inches, dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was Church of England. He had 7 vaccination marks on his left arm and a scar.
His educational qualifications were stated as “Cumloden” East St Kilda Melbourne, Church of England Grammar School Melbourne, and special course of architecture at Melbourne University (part course).
He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 7th May 1915 with the 24th Battalion and was commissioned in the A.I.F. With the 24th Battalion he embarked on HMAT Euripides from Melbourne on 10th May 1915. He was admitted to the No. 1 Australian General hospital on Heliopolis on 25th June 1915 but no other details were entered. Another card of the same date has neurasthenia and 14 days treatment. He was again sent to the hospital on 12th August with epididymitis and discharged on 8th September with 28 days light duty. He arrived at Gallipoli on 29th September 1915. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 8th December 1915. The Battalion left Mudros and arrived at Alexandria on 10th January 1916. Some dental trouble held him at Ismalia on 20th February. He proceeded to join the B.E.F. on 20th March and disembarked at Marseilles on 26th March. Gerald was promoted to Captain on 12th August 1916 in France. He was mentioned for good and gallant conduct in connection with the recent fighting at Pozieres.
A commendation was written on 8th August 1916 which reads:-“was detailed by Capt GODFREY on the night of the 4/5 August to take charge of CCM which was in the jumping off trench, while Capt GODFREY went forward with the left wing of DCM to OG.1. Lieut Carr, whilst under heavy shell fire, did splendid work in organising the CM which was spread on a large area owing to the Engineers & Pioneers cutting into the centre of the Coy. Later on he did fine work on a patrol and assisted in bringing back wounded men”. The Honour or Reward column has “stand over” written in it. In France on 9th August 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross. The recommendation reads:-“at Pozieres distinguished himself by gallant and skilful leading of C Company during the attack of 4/5 August and bringing his men into action in a most desirable manner. Has also done good work in command of a patrol, and (on relief) assisted in bringing in wounded men”. He was recommended for a Mention in Despatches on 15th September. His recommendation reads:-“For gallant and skilful work as a Platoon, and later as a Company Commander, in FRANCE since 26th March, 1916. He specially distinguished himself on the attack on POZIERES RIDGE on the 4/5th May as well as by his subsequent work in command of Patrols. His fearless conduct in bringing in wounded men from “No Man’s Land” has already been brought to notice”.
On 21st June 1917, a letter was sent to Gerald’s father stating “I have much pleasure in forwarding hereunder copy of extract from 1st Anzac Corps Routine Orders, dated 21st December, 1916, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by Capt. G. M. Carr, 24th Battalion. * COMPLIMENTARY * The name of the undermentioned officer has been brought to the notice of the Army Corps Commander for his gallant conduct. In publishing his name the Army Corps Commander wishes to record his appreciation of his services:- Captain GERALD MOSMAN CARR”. Gerald was posted to the 66th Battalion, 17th Brigade on the 10th and was marched out to them at Windmill Hill on 14th May 1917. He was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital on 7th August 1917 with not yet diagnosed symptoms and was sent to Cobham Hall on 10th September. On 15th September, he was transferred to the 24th Battalion from the 66th Battalion and seconded until rejoining unit. He was sent to various places in England in October and November 1917. In October 1917, a medical board found that “he has been on active service from July 1915 until a month ago, when he began to suffer from irritability of the bladder. He said that he does not feel fit and he is apprehensive about his being able to stand at present active service”. He was given 4 weeks. On 5th November 1917, he was sent to Bhurtpore Barracks Tidworth to a medical board on the state of his health. He had cystitis which had cleared, but was still anaemic and debilitated and had lost a stone in weight. It was recommended he would be fit for service in 6 weeks and it was due to exposure and strain. Another medical board in November found he was still debilitated and under weight. He was given another 2 months. In December, he was placed on the Supernumerary List and was classified unfit for general service, but fit for home service in early 1918. He also had numerous medical boards in early 1918.On 2nd May 1918 he was transferred from 24th Battalion to the Permanent Supernumerary List and posted for duty with the A.I.F. Depot at Tidworth in U.K. A letter in March 1918 was asking if he was fit for general service and asking a doctor to examine him. The doctor found him anaemic and recommended another month. The pathology report showed his blood to be fine, with his haemoglobin slightly lower than normal. His father Alfred signed for his Form of Commission on 16th May 1918. On 4th November 1918, he was found fit for general duty after medical reports said he had improved. He assumed the duties of Deputy Assistant Adjutant General on 30th November 1918 at Headquarters AIF Depot up until 15th February 1919. On 27th March 1919, he was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered.
His father passed away on 22nd December 1918 at Woollahra, Rose Bay, New South Wales and was buried at South Head Cemetery.
His brother, Lewis Allan Alfred Blakeney Carr, joined on 10th May 1915 as Private 3240 in the 6th Field Ambulance and embarked from Melbourne on 4th June 1915 on HMAT Ajana A31. He contracted influenza and then developed enteric on Gallipoli in October 1915 which lead to acute appendicitis and him being sent from Mudros to Gibraltar hospital and to England. He returned to Australia on 24th June 1916 and was discharged in October. After the war he continued his job as a clerk in Sydney. He moved to New Guinea and by 1934 he was living at Kolube Plantation, Kavieng as noted in his WW1 service record. Other records have him as a roadmaster and living at Kokopo. Lewis enlisted in the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles as Private NG4004 on 21st January 1942 and was discharged on the same date. It was noted “soldier not required for full time duty”. He was arrested by the Japanese in WW2 and died on 1st July 1942 as a civilian when the Montevideo Maru was torpedoed by a U.S. submarine. He was married to Marjorie Eleanor (surname unknown).
On 30th January 1919 in Lincoln, England Gerald married Winifred Mary Wells-Cole at St. Peter in Eastgate with St. Margaret, a Church of England church. She was 28 years old and had been born in Brigg, Lincolnshire on 7th June 1890. Her parents were Gervas Frederick Wells-Cole and Mary Beatrice Brook who had been married in 1888. Gervas was a breeder in the 1891 census and by the 1901 census he was a farmer, living on his own means and employed numerous staff. Gervas had attended Cambridge University from 1879 to 1883. He was involved in the local council and committee. In 1917 he passed away, leaving a large estate. One of Winifred’s brothers, Gervas C, served in World War 1 as a Captain in the RAMC, being entitled to the Victory and British War medals. After the war he was the local coroner. Another brother, Victor Henry, was a 2nd Lieutenant and then Lieutenant in the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and was entitled to the British War and Victory medals. He also was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. A third brother, Neville William was a Captain in the 65th Howitzer Battery Royal Horse Artillery, and was killed in action on 6th January 1918. He had been Mentioned in Despatches in 1916. The family seemed to be very involved with playing cricket as well. Her sister, Marjorie Gladys, married Geoffrey Hall in 1917 who was a Captain in the Royal Flying Corps. A cousin, William Francis was killed in 1917 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Lincolnshire Regiment.
On 3rd June 1919 Gerald was admitted as a Member of Military Division of the Order of the British Empire. It was promulgated in the London Gazette on 3rd June 1919, page 7004, position 39. A letter was sent to his wife on 1st November 1919 relating this information and noting-
“CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDER OF KNIGHTHOOD
The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of His Majesty’s Birthday, to give orders for the following promotion in an appointment to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for valuable services rendered in connexion with the War.” In a letter in June 1919 he stated he owed no one any money that he was aware of and if they are, to forward accounts to his New South Wales address. On 6th August 1920, a letter from Sydney requesting the MBE be sent to them was answered by Base Records that it and the Grant of Dignity was sent in a box of decorations on the Koonda to them on 5th August.
Gerald was on the 1919 Electoral Roll, living at Faversham, and his occupation of an architect was listed, but he was still in England at the time, so the records must not have been updated. In April 1919, a letter from the War Pensions Department was answered by Base Records stating he was still single and as they had no other details they assumed he was abroad, so obviously, his records had not been updated after his marriage. He was granted leave from 5th May to 5th August 1919 and again from 6th August to 30th November 1919 with pay. The reason given was he was attending an architecture course at Polytechnic, Regent St London. He was doing a course in constructional and reinforced concrete design and was getting full military rates. The report said the time and knowledge gained there would prove most useful back in Australia. A change of Next of Kin was noted on his service records on 2nd September 1919 to his wife, Mrs W M Carr 38 Rodney Court, Maida Vale London. He returned to Sydney, leaving England on 22nd January 1920. In a Medical Report of an Invalid form done on 12th March 1920, Gerald was described as fit and well and recommended for discharge by the doctor. His appointment was terminated on 11th May 1920. By 1921 he was living in Sydney with the Sands Directory listing him as an architect at 29 O’Connell St. He signed for the Warrant of the O.B.E. in January 1921 with the address being “Hiawatha” New South Head Road, Rose Bay. In October 1921, he signed for his 1914-15 Star and British War Medal. On 8th May 1923 Winifred left London on the Moreton Bay, bound for Sydney in 1st Class. Her last address in the U.K. was Dunstall House, Greetwell, Lincoln. By 1925 he had moved his business to the South British Building on the 3rd floor.
In 1927, they decided to move back to England and departed on the Orama in Brisbane on January and after stopping at many ports arrived at Plymouth England on 18th February. Their intended home was Dunstall House, Greetwell Rd. Lincoln. Again, they vanish and no records can be identified as being them, nor are they listed in any newspapers. The Electoral Rolls for England do not contain middle names, so it is impossible to find them through those.
On 18th February 1970, he passed away in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Winifred passed away in the same town in October 1983. It is not known if they had any children. The Sydney Morning Herald of 18th December 1970 has a notice that probate had been granted to his wife and another person and the Perpetual Trustees in Sydney were asking for creditors to submit their claim. His address was given as West Holme Coronation Rd, Prestbury Cheltenham Gloucestershire and he was a retired architect.
His medals are M.B.E., 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with oak leaf.
ANZAC Biographies
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