| Carpenter | Alfred | | Commander | CARPENTER, ALFRED, Commander, Royal Navy, was born at Brighton on 2 August 1847, son of Commander Charles Carpenter, RN, JP for Sussex (died in 1883), and of Sophia Wilson (died in 1882), daughter of Thomas Wilson, of Waltham-stow. He was educated at Brighton College, and entered the Royal Navy in 1861, becoming Lieutenant in 1870. In 1879 he married (1) Henrietta, daughter of G A F Shadwell, and they had one son and one daughter. He was promoted to Commander in 1883; served in the Challenger Expedition (Albert Medal, 2nd Class, for saving life), and in the Sudan Expedition, 1884, in command of Myrmidon (Medal and thanks of the Admiralty). Whilst in charge of the Marine Survey of India, he piloted the War Flotilla under fire to Mandalay and Bhanio in 1885; was specially mentioned in Despatches; received the Medal, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 13 January 1887]: "For operations in Burma, Alfred Carpenter, Commander, Royal Navy". Captain Carpenter was for nine years in charge of surveying vessels, and his last service HM Coastguard, Cowes. He married secondly, in 1891, Aetheldreda, daughter of Judge Homershan Cox, formerly a Judge of County Courts, of Marfield House, Tonbridge, Kent. He retired from the Royal Navy in 1895, with the rank of Captain. Captain Carpenter was the author of 'Nature Notes for Ocean Voyagers'. His favourite recreations were billiards and golf, and he was interested in collections of corals, in meteorology and astronomy. His son, Captain Carpenter, RN, of the Vindictive, won the VC in the European War.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Navy |
