Douglas Sherwood McCarter - Lest We Forget

Douglas McCarter was born March 8, 1895 at Calgary, Alberta. He was the son of George McCarter, a barrister, lawyer, and land speculator who was prominent in the early history of Revelstoke. George was born March of 1867 in Ontario.  Douglas’s mother Katie was born in July 1876 also in Ontario. A brother Arnold was born in April of 1896 in Calgary, and a sister Doris was born in October 1898 presumably also in Calgary. By 1899, the McCarter family was living in Revelstoke and had moved into a new home at 600 Mackenzie Avenue. In the summer of 1914 Douglas worked for a survey crew. In September he left Revelstoke to attend Trinity College, Toronto.

Douglas McCarter signed his enlistment papers March 12, 1917 at Calgary. He apparently enlisted as an officer as he was not given a regimental number which is the common practice. Douglas was 22 years old, single, and gave his occupation as student. His religious affiliation was Anglican. He sailed out of Halifax on the HMS Northland on April 16, 1917, arriving at Liverpool on April 29, 1917. Douglas’s younger brother, George Arnold McCarter had been attending Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, and he joined up in February of 1916 as a Lieutenant. Arnold continued his military career, and during World War II, he rose to the rank of Brigadier. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1945.

The Revelstoke Review of April 4, 1918 carried this item on the McCarter brothers:

“Capt. Arnold McCarter Wounded. He is in Rouen Hospital, suffering from wounds in hip and foot. His brother, Douglas, is recommended for decoration.

            “Considerable interest was manifested last Saturday in the fate of Douglas and Arnold McCarter, two former Revelstoke boys, owing to some dispatches stating that two batteries of artillery, of which they were thought to be attached, were missing, doubt being expressed as to whether they had been blown to pieces or captured. It has since been learned that Arnold, who is captain of a brigade, is in Rouen hospital, suffering from a gunshot wound in the hip and foot.

            “Douglas McCarter was changed some time ago from the 33rd Battalion to the 9th RCHA Brigade. It is reported that the whole of this brigade, with the exception of Douglas, was lost, and that he had, single-handed, kept the gun firing all night, for which he has been recommended for decoration and given charge of a section.

            “Both Douglas and Arnold spent the greater part of their lives in Revelstoke, and were respected and esteemed by all, the former being a graduate of Toronto University and the latter of the Kingston Military College.”

Douglas McCarter died September 27, 1918. He was 23 years old. At the time of his death he was a Lieutenant with the 9th Battalion, Canadian Field Artillery. He is buried at the Bourlon Wood Cemetery, France.

The name of Douglas McCarter is inscribed on the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques as well as on the Chancel Screen of St. Peter’s Anglican Church.

Revelstoke YMCA class, circa 1909. George Arnold McCarter is on the top row, 3rd from left; Douglas McCarter is on the next row down, 2nd from left.