Eric Carter was born in Spotswood Victoria on the 15 March 1893. His father was Herbert James Carter and his mother was Louise Carter.

In 1914, he was living with his mother and father at 531 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne.He enlisted in Melbourne on the 6 July 1915. He was by occupation a clerk and was then 22 years and four months old, with a solid build at 5 foot seven and 12 stone. Once enlisted, he would have trained at Seymour, Victoria, then at Broadmeadows, as part of the 8th Brigade.before being attached to the newly formed 29th battalion.

He lists himself as single, however later documentation showed that  he had a wife, Lilian Ann. Possibly  they married after he enlisted. Eric Carter embarked on the 10 November 1915 ex Melbourne on A11 SS Ascanius with the full contingent of the 29th Battalion and disembarking at Suez on 7 December, 1915. The battalion was too late to join in the Gallipoli campaign, but were used to protect the Suez Canal from Ottoman forces.

The 29th Battalion subsequently embarked on the troopship HT Tunisian ex Alexandria on the 16 June 1916 arriving at  Marseilles on 23 June 1916 and subsequently was transported by rail to Hazebrouk. on * july, the Fifth Division was called up to the front from training in order to replace the battalions of the Australian 4th Division, which were being transferred to the Somme. From the rail line, the 29th battalion had a 47 kilometre march with loads of up to 32-34 kilos per man, before arriving at the front on the night of 10/11 July. Here they relieved the 13 Battalion and on 19 July, took part in an attack against the Germans at Delange Farm. Following the attack, the battalion held the line for another 11 days, beating off a heavy German counter-attack on 20 July, with 52 men killed in action and another 164 wounded. On 5 August, 1916, Eric Carter was promoted to Lance Corporal in the field.

He must have been seen as a good soldier, because he was detached to 5th Division School of Instruction on 18 August 1916 and promoted to Corporal on 20 October, 1916. Conditions in the trenches were horrific and on 13 February, Eric was admitted to the 1st NZSH suffering from Scabies and discharged a week later on 20 February 1917.

Eric Carter rejoined the 29th Battalion on the 1 May 1917 and promoted to Sergeant 21 July 1917.He took leave from 18 August 1917 to the 2 September 1917, before returnong to the Western Front. He was killed in action on the 26/27 September 1917 in the vicinity of  Polygon Wood,  Ypres.

 The 29th Battalion War Diary for the 26/27 September 1917;

''26 p Batt assembled on tape at 4.25am. Heavy bombardment with gas shells while laying on tape. 5.50am Attacked enemy positions in Polygon Wood.12.00 noon Advanced to final objective. 1.00pm final objective taken. 2.00pm thru to 7.30am on the 27th Sept Enemy counter attack'

After this, the action roll shows 2 officers  and 40 other ranks killed and 8 officers and 186 other ranks wounded in the action.

Eric Charles Carter did not sign the standard will form adding  'I do not desire to make a will' and his estate was still being resolved as late as 1934.

The Memorial Plaque and the Memorial Scroll were presented to his wife Lilian.

His grave insciption reads: 

A noble son

A faithful and affectionate husband

A loving father

Age 24

An In Memorium Notice in The Argus of Saturday 27 October, 1917, read:

A tribute in memory of Sergeant Eric Carter, killed in action on the 25th September. A gentleman and a true pal.

In 1919, his widow, Lilian was living with Eric's mother and father at 531 Victoria Parade East Melbourne.

in 1936 Eric's mother and father were still living at 531 Victoria Street. There is no further record of Lilian, who may have remarried.