Major Gordon Senior 'Toby' Carter DSO (20 April 1910 – 1988)[2] was a New Zealand surveyor and road engineer[3][4] who worked in Sarawak, Borneo prior to World War II for Shell Oil.

He enlisted with the British Army during the war,[5] and served in the Royal Australian Engineers and later in Z Special Unit in Borneo, where he was the Officer in Command of the Semut II operation in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak.

[8] Described as "a courteous, soft-spoken, long, lean New Zealander"[9] Carter worked for Shell as an oilfield surveyor in Sarawak, and had pre-war experience of the Baram-Tinjar River basin there.

His intelligence network and efficient W/T [radio] organisation was responsible for much valuable information on enemy movements reaching 9 Aust Div prior to OBOE VI operation.

On several occasions this officer personally led his guerilla bands into attacks which inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy.According to one account, "Carter was assessed as an idealist, his overall actions being motivated by operational orders and a compassion for the goodwill of the natives.

Intelligence gathering and guerrilla training were carried out as normal duties, but the Major never lost sight of the long term strategy of fostering goodwill, civil administration where possible for the return of British colonial rule."

Carter was chosen for this role as he knew many of the Sarawak oil field people and fellow New Zealand surveyors from North Borneo.