Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Edward Martin Carr, known as Ted, was born on 16 December 1889 at Temuka, the eldest son of Edward and Sarah (née Dunn) Carr, and was baptised on 25 December 1889 in the Temuka Catholic Church. Edward Carr had come from Tipperary, Ireland, with his parents and married Sarah in 1889 in New Zealand. They lived for many years in the Temuka district, where Mr Carr was a member of the Temuka Football Club’s 1889 team, and a member of the first Temuka Borough Council and the Road Board, as well as being active in athletic circles, before moving to Waihao Forks late in 1908. At Waihao Downs, Mr Carr got involved with forming a hockey club and with the Waimate Racing Club and Waihao Downs School, as well as contributing to the entertainment at Waihao Downs. Edward, junior, was educated at St Joseph's School, Temuka. In 1901 Edward Carr and three other young lads were charged with stealing apples from an Arowhenua orchard and summarily dealt with.

Ted learned his blacksmith's trade with his father. Prior to enlisting, he was employed in the New Zealand Railways, and he enlisted with several other railway men in the 21st Reinforcements. On 4 June 1913 in Christchurch, he had married Mary Halliday. Living in Christchurch, they had two sons born before Edward left for the War – Edward Martin Carr born on 5 September 1913 and John Joseph Carr born on 28 September 1915. Edward Martin Carr registered for the Eighteenth Reinforcements in Christchurch on 8 June 1916, one of 17 married men to do so. A few days later he was one of 13 men out of 24 found fit at the medical examination. Edward stood at 5 feet 8 inches, weighed 157 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 36-40 inches. He had blue eyes and dark brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal. His limbs were well formed and he had perfect movement of all joints. Having suffered no illness, free of diseases, and vaccinated, he was in good bodily and mental health. Edward Carr had previously served with the Volunteers until his time expired.

On 20 September he left for the north with the Christchurch quota for the 21st Reinforcement. The men paraded at King Edward Barracks at 6 p.m. – “a scene of animation”, and, after three lusty cheers, joined a special train at 7.45 p.m. “The men, all round, were a particularly fine lot; . . .” Addressing the men, the Mayor said that if they wanted to see service they would have to get fit quickly, as there was every indication that the Allies would soon come out victorious. Colonel Chaffey, who also urged them to get fit quickly, exhorted them, however, “to banish from their minds any impression that the war was nearly over”. He enlisted on 23 September 1916, aged 26 years 6 months and Roman Catholic, nominating his wife as next-of-kin - Mrs M. Carr, 162 Wordsworth Street, Sydenham, Christchurch. Corporal E. M. Carr embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade per the “Waitemata” at Wellington on 19 January 1917, destined for England, where he disembarked at Devonport on 29 March and reverted to the rank of lance corporal.

On 26 May 1917 he proceeded overseas to France and joined his battalion as rifleman, having relinquished his temporary appointment of lance corporal. In mid August he was again appointed lance corporal and rejoined his battalion. In November 1917, a very long casualty list recorded Lance-Corporal E. M. Carr, 36406, as wounded. He had suffered a wound in his left hand on 12 October in the Messines battle, and was admitted to No. 14 Stationary Hospital. His brother-in-law, Private A. T. Sullivan had been wounded at the beginning of October and admitted to hospital in England. Ted recovered and went to the front again in December. After leave in early March 1917, he rejoined his battalion on 23 March. Casualty List No. 832 issued on 7 April 1918 was even more serious – Lance Corporal Edward Martin Carr, of the Rifle Brigade, had been killed in action at the Somme on 27 March 1918, aged 28 years. He was buried in Auchonvillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France. The Roll of Honour notice in the Lyttelton Times of 18 April 1918 read “dearly loved husband of Mary Carr, . . . He gave his life for King and country.”

Mrs Mary Carr’s father, John Halliday of Paisley, Scotland, died at the Christchurch Hospital in January 1918. As of 12 September 1921, Mary was of Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland, then C/o Mrs J. Holmes, Lochend Farm, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, Scotland. His personnel file indicates that a Will was left with solicitors in Christchurch; it was not traced. His memorial plaque, scroll and medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal - were forwarded to Mrs Mary Carr, C/o Post Office, Waihao Forks, Waimate. In the 1920s Mary moved to Waimate, where her son Edward entered Waimate Main School in March 1924 after a few weeks at Awamoko School near Oamaru. And J. Carr won the boys’ junior championship at the Waimate High School’s swimming sports in March 1930. In March 1942, Edward Martin Carr, junior, of Christchurch was called up for Territorial military service, and duly enlisted in 1943, naming Mrs M. W. Carr, his wife, as his next-of-kin. He moved to Paisley, Scotland, probably in 1945, dying there in 1991. John Joseph Carr and his wife were back in Christchurch by 1949, as was his widowed mother, Mrs Mary Carr. All died in Christchurch, Mary in 1973.

His brothers John Joseph Carr and Owen Carr were both killed in action on 30 March 1918 in the Palestine, just three days after Edward. Thus their parents lost three sons in a matter of four days. In addition, their uncle, a brother of their father Edward, was killed in action on 13 August 1918. From April 1918, three names were added to Waimate’s Roll of Honour , under the heading “The Supreme Sacrifice”, published frequently in the Waimate Daily Advertiser – Sergeant J. J. Carr, Lance-Corporal E. M. Carr and Trooper O. P. Carr. These same three names also appeared on the Temuka list of the Roll of Honour published regularly in the Temuka Leader – Sergeant J. J. Carr, Corporal E. M. (Ted) Carr and Private O. Carr.

Early in 1928 Mr Edward Carr, of Waihao Downs, attempted suicide. Surely he had suffered since 1918 when he lost three sons within a few days and his brother just months later. Mr and Mrs Carr had also lost their 19 year old youngest son, Francis Claude Carr, in 1924. His health was not good and he was drinking a little. In 1930, their second youngest son, Raymond Carr, died at 27 years of age. Edward Carr died in 1932, and Sarah in 1953. The three sons of Edward and Sarah Carr are remembered on the Carr family headstone in Waimate Old Cemetery –

“Killed in action – Lance Corporal E. M. Carr 27 March 1917 aged 28.

Srgt J. J. Carr d. 30 March 1918 aged 24.

Trooper O. P. Carr 30 March 1918 aged 21.”

Mary Theresa Carr, sister of Ted, Joe and Owen, married returned serviceman, Alfred Thomas Sullivan, who died in 1927 and was buried at Waimate.

The New Zealand Tablet of 2 May 1918 recorded thus: “Much sympathy is felt throughout the whole district for Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carr, of Waihao Forks, who have suffered an exceptional loss in the death of their three sons, Edward, Joseph, and Owen, killed in action in France. Surely a noble sacrifice for King and Country.” Mrs Burnett of Palmerston North, inserted memorial notices in the Manawatu Times on 23 April 1918, in memory of her three Carr nephews, noting that Ted was also her godson. Mrs Burnett was a sister of their mother Sarah. For many years the family regularly inserted memorial notices for all their sons in the several daily newspapers and in The New Zealand Tablet. In 1919 Ted’s wife and children remembered –

My husband is sleeping his last long sleep

In a grave I will never see,

But some gentle hand

In a distant land

May lay down a flower for me.

The 1920 Tablet notice marked the great loss suffered by the family –

IN MEMORIAM

CARR. — Of your charity pray for the repose of the souls of Edward Martin Carr (N.Z.R.B.), eldest dearly beloved son of Edward and Sarah Carr, who was killed in action in France on March 27, 1918, aged 28 years; Sergt. John Joseph Carr (Main Body), second dearly beloved son of Edward and Sarah Carr, who was killed in action in Palestine on March 30, 1918; aged 24 years; Trooper Owen Patrick Carr (18th Reinforcements), third dearly beloved son of Edward and Carr, who was killed in action in Palestine on March 30, 1918; aged 21 years and 8 months. — R.I.P.

Individual notices for each son, and Mary’s husband, were sometimes inserted, by their loving parents, sisters and brothers; sometimes a single notice for all three, always reflecting on the same great loss. The 1932 notice was inserted by their loved ones, Edward Carr, senior, having died only a few days before. And a 1938 notice was inserted by their mother, sisters and brothers in the Press, Mrs Carr having gone to Christchurch to live.

Edward Martin Carr’s name is inscribed on several local memorials - Timaru Memorial Wall, Temuka RSA Roll of Honour, Temuka War Memorial, St Joseph's Church Temuka Memorial, Waimate War Memorial, Arno Roll of Honour – beneath the words “Supreme Sacrifice” and above the words “Erected as a token of Respect”, and St Patrick's (Waimate) Memorial list (under construction May 2014). The St Joseph’s Church, Temuka, Memorial, an “exceedingly beautiful” monument to the memory of those who had fallen in the war, was unveiled after a Memorial Service on 25 April 1922. During the service appropriate music was provided by the choir and an excellent address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy. Four months later the Temuka Borough memorial was unveiled before a very large gathering in the domain, including Temuka Territorials and Cadets, Temuka and Geraldine returned soldiers, the Temuka Pipe Band, the Salvation Army Band, the children of the district schools, national and local dignitaries, and local folk. Opening proceedings, the Mayor said “We regret that this occasion has arisen, but having done so we must look back with pride at the actions of those who rose to the call of the Motherland, which was in peril. Many of those brave boys who left these shores did not return, and we have erected this memorial to their memory, . . .” Following hymns and scripture readings, His Excellency the Governor-General formally unveiled the monument and the local M.P. read out the names inscribed thereon. (Carr E. M., Carr J. J., Carr J., Carr, O. P.)

On Anzac Day, 1927, a Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Joseph’s Church, Temuka. The celebrant preached a very stirring sermon based on the Book of Wisdom (Chapter III, Verses 2-5). He pointed out that the Gallipoli campaign and later “gigantic episodes” would remain for all time a wonderful symbol of the age-old courage of men. He reminded the lads present that the enormous sacrifices made by the soldiers of New Zealand and other parts of the Empire were helping them to have brighter and better lives, and that all should render thanks to God, who had delivered them out of the hands of the enemy. They had gathered to commemorate the landing at Gallipoli and also to set aside the day to show their deep and grateful acknowledgement of the services of the men who had fought and died for them on other fields of the great battle-front. “The light of immortality that flashed from the abandoned tomb of the risen Christ lingers on in every mound of Flanders mud and clay, the gullies of Gallipoli, the sands of Palestine and Egypt, on the quiet churchyards in English villages and on God’s acres in New Zealand. . . . . And to-day, before God’s altar, we remember them with the love we bore them and the pride we shall have in them,” he concluded. Before the Dead March was played by the organist, the names were read of those from the Temuka parish who had died “on the field of honour” – among them those of Edward Carr, Owen Carr, John Carr and Joseph Carr.

The Waimate War Memorial, erected in the form of an arch in Victoria Park as a memorial to those of the town and district who gave their lives for the Empire and civilisation in the war of 1914-18, was unveiled on 25 April 1923. Near the top, in bold brass lettering are the numerals 1914-1918, and above the marble slabs bearing the names are two white marble plates one inscribed: “To our Glorious Dead,” and the other: “Their name Liveth for Evermore.” On each side of the archway there are columns of names in black lettering on white marble. Included in the names inscribed are Carr E. M., Carr Jos, and Carr O. P. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson (Newman Robert Wilson), a Waimate boy, who gave the address, observed that the memorial was the outward expression of the high regard and appreciation they felt for the men and women from the district who had done their job. Before drawing aside the Union Jacks covering the tablets bearing the names of 149 men and three nurses who lost their lives during the war, the speaker quoted Kipling's Recessional, “Lest We Forget.” He then withdrew the flags veiling the memorial, on which was the inscription: “To the glory of God and the honourable memory of the brave souls of Waimate and district who gave their all for us and freedom.” Three volleys were fired, the “Last Post” sounded, a prayer of dedication offered, and wreaths laid in tribute.

There is a portrait of Edward Martin Carr, 36506, in “Onward – Portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force”, Volume 4.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [08 October 2013]; N Z Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0022988) [18 October 2013]; CWGC [09 October 2013]; New Zealand Tablet, 3 June 1892, 2 May 1918, 1 April 1920, 31 March 1921, 29 March 1923, 1 April 1925, South Canterbury Times, 20 February 1901, Temuka Leader, 28 November 1908, 10 November 1917, 27 & 29 March 1919, 26 April 1922, 12 August 1922, 26 April 1927, 1 September 1932, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 13 October 1911, 29 July 1912, 10 November 1917, 23 April 1918, Press, 9 & 15 June 1916, 28 April 1923, 30 March 1938, Sun, 20 & 21 September 1916, New Zealand Times, 2 November 1917, Timaru Herald, 10 November 1917, 19 & 26 April 1918, 27 March 1919, 29 March 1920, 30 March 1920, 30 March 1921, 30 March 1922, 11 August 1922, 13 November 1922, 29 March 1923, 29 March 1924, 28 March 1925, 30 March 1926, 30 March 1927, 30 March 1928, Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1918, 18 & 24 April 1918, Star, 19 & 24 April 1918, 27 March 1919, Manawatu Times, 23 April 1918 (Papers Past) [09 October 2013; 08 June 2014; 20 August 2016; 03 November 2017; 06 & 16 February 2018, 02, 03 & 04 May 2020]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [2013]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [09 June 2014]; Headstone transcription Waimate Old Cemetery (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery Records microfiche) [08 August 2014]; Waimate Cemetery Records (Waimate District Council) [23 August 2014]; Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index (CD held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [19/04/2015]; Timaru Herald, 30 March 1927, 30 March 1932 (Timaru District Library) [01 July 2013; 20 January 2017]; “Onward – Portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force” (held by South Canterbury Branch of the NZ Society of Genealogists); Temuka Through the Years: an informal history (Compiled by Temuka History Book Committee, 2009) [accessed 14 October 2013]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• CARR brothers - newspaper clippings (pdf, 276.0 KB updated 22-May-2020)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS