John was the son of John Thomas Carter b.1856, a Corporation tramways labourer and earlier a railway porter and pointsman, and Hannah Maria Carter née Wade b.1864.

He first appeared on the 1901 Census living at 381 Bury Road, Breightmet, Bolton with his parents and brothers William b.1877, Tom b.1896 and Arthur b.1898.

In 1911 John was living at the same address with his parents and siblings William, Tom, Arthur, Gerald b.1902 and May b.1906.

John was employed as a railway clerk.

He lost his life alongside hundreds of others when HMT Royal Edward was torpedoed by the German submarine UB-14 while en route from Alexandria to Lemnos. The ship was carrying 1367 officers and men destined for Gallipoli.

His name is on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway War Memorial on Victoria Station, Manchester.