THE sacrifice of a young Worcester soldier who died in the trenches following a tragic accident will be remembered alongside other casualties of war.

The name of Sergeant Fred Carter is one of many on the war memorial outside St Martin’s Church in London Road, Worcester, and he will be remembered this Armistice Day by family friend Peter Birch, who is determined to keep his memory alive.

Originally a printer, Sgt Carter lived in Livingstone Street in Red Hill, Worcester, starting his career with the territorial army on September 8, 1914.

He was based at Hampton Court then assigned to the Middlesex Regiment, sent to Gibraltar and, after two years of service, rose to the rank of sergeant, volunteering for active service in France.

As a territorial he was not allowed to fight on the frontline, so he signed the necessary paperwork to allow him to join forces on the Somme.

He joined up with the other men from the regiment in 1916 and saw action in various battles ending up at Leuze Wood, which they fought hard to capture.

September 15, 1916, was the start of a big push to capture Foureaux Wood, Hill 154 and Morval, allowing troops to go on to capture the German base at Flers-Courcelette, but Sgt Carter was killed on the eve of the advance. Pete Birch, of Chesterfield Close, Northfield, Birmingham, said there were few members of Sgt Carter’s family left to tell his story and he had lost contact with them.

He said: “Records tell of a tragic story. Fred was killed the day before on September 14 in an accident – he was aged 27.

“A group of soldiers waiting for their food in support positions between Wedge Wood and Leuze Wood decided to improve their comfort by lighting a fire. A few minutes later the men were informed that the day before, bombs had been dug out of the trench floor.

“On seeing bombs still sticking out of the ground by the fire, they quickly evacuated the trench and informed Sgt Carter and Lance Sergeant Walden.

“After asking why they had started a fire on top of bombs Sgt Carter went to deal with the problem himself.

“As he was about to jump down into the trench there was an explosion, killing Sgt Carter and L/Sgt Walden and wounding four privates.”

Both are buried in the Peronne Road Cemetery at Maricourt in France.

During the attack the following day, the 1/8th battalion of the Middlesex Regiment suffered another 245 casualties Mr Birch said: “I visited their graves recently and the cemetery is so well kept by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and so peaceful.

“Their names will live on forever because so many people visit the many cemeteries and graves on the Somme each year and read the writing on the headstones.

“Each cemetery has a memorial cross and there you will always find a wreath or two.”

Sgt Carter had three brothers in the Army – Henry, George and Jack – and all returned home after the war.

Following his death, Sgt Carter’s possessions – some photographs, a handkerchief, a watch and a tin box – were returned to his mother.