Norman Hunter Carter

Captain (retired) Norman Hunter Carter (25 July, 1877 – 13 November, 1949) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He would distinguish himself in the bombardment of the Belgian Coast, but soon leave the service after the intensity of the work overwhelmed him.

Life & Career

The son of a Major J. C. Carter, Norman Carter gained five months' time on passing out of Britannia. He was appointed to join Royal Arthur in the Pacific in March, 1893. He was invalided from her on 8 August, 1894 with paraplegia. This proved temporary, and Carter was sent to join the Royal Sovereign in the Channel Squadron in late October, 1894, arriving in England on 4 December to take up this assignment.

Carter was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1899.

In late 1903, Carter obtained a second-class certificate after completing the Short Course in gunnery. Two months later, he obtained a first-class certificate after completing the Short Course in torpedoes.

Upon being superseded in command of T.B. 117 by Dashwood Fowler Moir on 15 May, 1909, Carter was appointed to Temeraire, becoming that dreadnought's first lieutenant on 6 January, 1910. Carter was promoted to the rank of Commander on 22 June 1911, and on 27 July left Temeraire to take up an appointment in command of the Tribal Class destroyer Zulu.

Carter was appointed to the battleship Africa as executive officer on 1 August, 1912. On 28 July, 1914 Carter was appointed from Africa to join the War Staff, settling in first with the Mobilisation Division and moving to the Operations Division as Staff Officer, second grade on 31 October, 1914.

Carter was appointed to the monitor Lord Clive in June, 1915, to assume command upon her commissioning. He took her directly into action, bombarding the Belgian coast. On 8 September, 1915 he received a slight wound. This appears to have shaken him, as on the 25th he was temporarily superseded in command of Lord Clive and under evaluation ashore at Deal where he was diagnosed with neurasthenia. He was sent to Deal Infirmary on 9 November, never to return to seagoing command. He was gazetted for his work in bombarding the Belgian Coast in August and September, 1915, gazetted 12 January, 1916.

Carter was placed on the Retired List as medically unfit on 29 August, 1916.

Post-War

Carter was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 25 July, 1922.

Carter died of lung cancer in late 1949.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Harry H. Smyth	Captain of H.M.S. Hardy 28 Nov, 1900 – 1901	Succeeded by Robert G. D. Dewar
Preceded by Cecil D. S. Raikes	Captain of H.M.S. Thrasher 21 Dec, 1903 – 28 Dec, 1904	Succeeded by Cecil H. Pilcher
Preceded by Ernest S. Carey	Captain of H.M.S. Sprightly 28 Dec, 1904 – 24 Jan, 1905	Succeeded by Charles P. R. Coode
Preceded by Arthur K. Macrorie	Captain of H.M.S. Cynthia 24 Jan, 1905 – Apr, 1905	Succeeded by Reginald St. P. Parry
Preceded by William G. A. Kennedy	Captain of H.M.S. Lively Apr, 1905 – May, 1905	Succeeded by John R. Dodington
Preceded by Cyril P. Ryan	Captain of H.M.S. Panther May, 1905 – 11 Sep, 1906	Succeeded by Reginald C. L. Owen
Preceded by John Reep	Captain of H.M.S. Salmon 11 Sep, 1906 – 25 May, 1907	Succeeded by Louis H. Crozier
Preceded by Henry L. Hitchins	Captain of H.M. T.B. 117 25 May, 1907 – 15 May, 1909	Succeeded by Dashwood F. Moir
Preceded by John E. Cameron	Captain of H.M.S. Zulu 27 Jul, 1911 – 1 Aug, 1912	Succeeded by Hugh B. Mulleneux
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Lord Clive Jul, 1915 – 16 Nov, 1915	Succeeded by George R. B. Blount