BORN HULL 1891. SON OF ROBERT HALL CARLTON & HANNAH CARLTON, OF NEWLAND PARK, HULL & 3 TRINITY AVENUE, BRIDLINGTON. HIS FATHER WAS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MAW, TILLE & KIRKE & CO LTD, HULL. SON OF A DRAPER. HE HAD ONE BROTHER, JOHN AND FIVE SISTERS. EDUCATED AT HULL’S HYMER COLLEGE WHERE HE PLAYED FOOTBALL AND CRICKET, AND MEMBER OF THE CADETS. WORKED AS A DRAPER SHOP ASSISTANT AND DEALER.
HE ENLISTED IN LONDON, JOINING THE SPORTSMEN BATTALION. WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT, IN THE 4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HAD BEEN IN FRANCE SINCE 14/03/1916 WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 17/06/1916, AGED 25. HE WAS HIT BY A SHRAPNEL BULLET, AT 1.30 AM, PATROLLING THE TRENCHES CHEERING UP HIS MEN. (HULL DAILY MAIL 22.06.1916)
HE IS BURIED AT LINDENHOEK CHALET MILITARY CEMETERY, BELGIUM. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS”
HIS NAME ISLISTED ON HYMER COLLEGE ROLL OF HONOUR.
1/4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment – Map 28 Wytschaete – 17 June 1916, War Diary reads:-
12.25am Enemy released Gas opposite E trenches, the wind at the time was North and rather variable. It blew the gas across the ‘New Cut’ trench E3. E1. E6 trenches. The gas cloud was very thick and lasted about 20 minutes. Few casualties were caused at first, but the after effects proved fatal in several cases, 2nd Lt WF Carlton was killed in F Trench, 2nd Lt Gresham very severely wounded, 2nd Lt Sutton slightly wounded, 2nd Lt WRR Brown and 2nd Lt Marshall were affected by shock and gas and left the trenches.
The Total casualties were, Officers killed 1, wounded 3, other ranks killed 10, wounded 74, missing 1. 5 other ranks of the wounded subsequently died at the dressing station at LINDENHOEK. 2nd Lt GH Lofthouse sick to hospital.
18 June 1916
Quiet day no casualties. 2nd Lt Carlton and 17 other ranks were buried at LINDENHOEK Cemetery, N.27.c. These men were casualties on the 17/06/1916. Six were killed by shellfire, 11 died of gas poisoning. 2 men of the wounded died in hospital and 2 others were buried at LOCRE.
NB: 36 CLUMBER STREET
