Private Harold George Carter

1. Private, 73rd Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1916-08-21 to 1917-04-20
2. Private (Army). 1916-07-06 to 1916-08-20
3. Private (Army). 1915-03-10 to 1916-07-06

Son of George Howard Carter and Amelia 'Milly' Carter (nee Broadhurst); younger brother of Ernest Henry Carter (Service No. 33034)

Date of Birth declared on Attestation papers was March 26, 1894 but birth record confirms the correct Date of Birth was March 26, 1896

Tried and convicted by Field General Court Martial on April 5, 1917 for 'When on active service, deserting His Majesty's service'. Executed by firing squad April 20, 1917.

Absent - 5 days, Absent two previous occasions, while on suspended sentence, absented himself.

"Those who go to war at the request of their nation do not know the fate that lies in store for them. This was a war of such overwhelming sound, fury and unrelenting horror that few combatants could remain unaffected," said Minister Duhamel. "While we cannot relive those awful years of a nation at peril in total war, and although the culture of that time is subsequently too distant for us to comprehend fully, we can give these 23 soldiers a dignity that is their due, and provide closure to their families." (The Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs 11 December 2001)

The Government of Canada has offered an apology and formally announced its regret for this situation. On December 11, 2001, Veteran Affairs Minister, Dr. Ron Duhamel rose in the House of Commons and with sincerity and passion, read the names of those 23 Canadians into the Parliamentary record and announced their names will be written into Parliament Hill's Book of Remembrance. He was whole-heartedly supported by all of Canada's opposition Parties.

59th Battalion Nominal Roll

A. B. Godefroy For Freedom And Honour?