PRIVATE JAMES CARTER, 1ST BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE (WHO ENLISTED USING THE ALIAS JAMES CARTY). Canada General Service Medal 1866-70, 2 clasps, Fenian Raid 1866, Fenian Raid 1870 (officially named, impressed in the correct “Canadian” style, upper and lower

PRIVATE JAMES CARTER, 1ST BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE (WHO ENLISTED USING THE ALIAS JAMES CARTY). Canada General Service Medal 1866-70, 2 clasps, Fenian Raid 1866, Fenian Raid 1870 (officially named, impressed in the correct “Canadian” style, upper and lower case italic letters and numbers: 248. Pte. J. Carter 1st. R. Bde.). Almost Extremely Fine, with a good length of original ribbon.

Medal accompanied by copied extract 1851 census, 1861 and 1871 British Army Worldwide Index extracts and copied medal rolls, original and published, both of which confirm medal and clasps.

James Carter was born in Gateshead, Co. Durham. He is recorded in the 1851 census return as the 18 year old son of John Carter, a 38 year old engine man and resident in Swansea. Carter enlisted into the Rifle Brigade on 27/1/1859 using the alias James M. Carty. He is recorded in the 1861 Worldwide Index as serving with the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade variously at Aldershot, Dublin and The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland, and in the 1871 Worldwide Index as serving with the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade at Woolwich, seeing service in Canada in the intervening years. Carter was discharged with the rank of Sergeant at Dover on 8/2/1873. Army Pay Records confirm that, while serving with the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade he was a musician in the Rifle Brigade band and also did duty as a hospital attendant. After being discharged, Carter emigrated to Canada and was employed as a Clerk in the Dead Letter Office, Balmy Beach, Toronto, Ontario. He died in Toronto on 15/9/1907. Carter’s medal was issued in 1900 and forwarded to him at 338 Ontario Street, Toronto.

Original medal roll gives name as “James M. Carty (alias James Carter)” and published medal roll gives name as James M. Carty, but medal was issued named to recipient correctly as J. Carter.