Walter Hunt
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Walter was born about 1888, the son of George and Elizabeth Hunt. George was born in Besthorpe, Nottinghamshire, in about 1863 and worked as a farm labourer/herdsman all his life. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Ropsley, Lincolnshire, also in about 1863. In 1891 George and Elizabeth (28) were living in South Clifton in the ecclesiastical parish of North Clifton (St George the Martyr). They had two sons, William (6, b. Eakring, Notts) and Walter (3). By the time of the next census in 1901 George was a widower, still living in South Clifton, but with only his youngest son, Walter, in the household. His wife, Elizabeth, may have died late 1900 or early 1901 as there is a record of an Elizabeth Hunt (b. 1863) whose death at the age of 38 was registered in the quarter Jan/Feb/Mar 1901. Walter joined the army in 1906 and by 1911 was serving in India with the King's Royal Rifle Corps. His father was still living in South Clifton in 1911 but had remarried and had a son, William, aged 13 (b. South Clifton). The census was completed with the information that his wife, Mary Elizabeth (46, b. Besthorpe), had been married for four years and had had one child who was still living. There is a record of a marriage between a George Hunt and a Mary Elizabeth Smith registered in 1906 (Jul/Aug/Sep) in East Retford registration district. It would be interesting to speculate whether Walter's decision to join the army in May 1906 was prompted by his father's second marriage the same year. George completed a form for the Army in 1919 listing Walter's living blood relatives. He named only himself and a 'brother of the half-blood', William, age 21, whose address was given as 'in Egypt'. George may have mistakenly listed his second wife's son by a previous relationship as a blood relative or William may have been their son who was born out of wedlock. There was no mention of the son of the same name by his first wife; the obvious explanation is that William had died but he might have been estranged from his father. Walter's personal property was returned to his father at South Clifton but later army documents relating to the disposal of his medals, plaque and scroll gave his father's address as The Cottage, Labour in Vain, Rufford, Ollerton, Near Newark, Nottinghamshire. This is also the address given on the CWGC record which only gives the name of his father, George, and not that of his mother.
Walter attested in the King's Royal Rifle Corps on 4 May 1906 at the age of 18 years and 8 months. He enlisted for nine years Army Service and three years Reserve Service; reckonable service counted from 14 May. His army record shows that he was absent from duty from 17 September 1907 (4 days), rejoined and awaiting trial 21 September 1907 (5 days). He was convicted by (-) of (I) desertion (II) losing by neglect his equipment and clothing. On 27 September 1907 he was sentenced to 56 days Detention and stoppages. He returned to duty on 13 November 1907, the unexpired portion of detention from 12 November 1907 being remitted. Notwithstanding this offence, he was promoted lance corporal on 22 February 1909. He probably served in India for the latter part of his engagement transferring to the Army Reserve on 1 March 1913. He was mobilized on the outbreak of war and served in the BEF dying in a military hospital following an operation for abdominal injuries resulting from shell fire. He is buried in Vendresse British Cemetery, Aisne, France (grave ref 3.D.6). He qualified for the Clasp to the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His father, George Hunt, was his sole legatee under his will.
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