William Hunt
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Two brothers who fell in the Great War were William and George Hunt of Bothamsall. Their parents were Harry and Elizabeth Margaret Hunt, nee Smith. The parents had married in 1888 at Eagle, Lincolnshire, the home where Harry had been born and bred and learnt his agricultural worker skills. It was also where William and George were born, William in 1892 and George in 1895. By around 1898/9, the family moved to Bothamsall and now consisted of five children, Rosie, Frances and Harry being the other three. After ten years of living in Bothamsall, 16 year old George was working as a farm labourer, whilst 19 year old older brother, William had left the family home and was living as a boarder and working as a horseman on a farm at Grove, Retford.
Pte William Hunt Retford Times 28th June 1918 We regret to record the death of another brave hero from Bothamsall. Mr and Mrs Harry Hunt have received information of the death of their son. Pte Wm Hunt, Lincoln Regt who died in France from wounds on May 13th. This is the second boy Mr and Mrs Hunt have lost in the war. Pte Wm Hunt joined up on Sept 1st 1914. He was at the time employed by Mr Doncaster, Bothamsall. He went to the Dardanelles and was wounded in the face. Three weeks later on Aug 9th, his brother, Pte Geo Hunt was killed. After leaving the East, William Hunt went to France and was wounded on the Somme in 1916. He was at Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield for six months and returned to France in June 1917. The following month he was gassed. When he received the wounds which had a fatal ending, he was acting as a stretcher bearer. Whilst resting at night, the Huns shelled the dugout in which the brave young soldier was sleeping and he was badly wounded in the left leg, a piece of shell completely shattering it. He was removed to a first aid station but died soon after his arrival. He was 26 years of age. On Sunday June the 9th, a memorial service was held at Bothamsall Parish Church, the Rev WG Roach officiating. William was buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazinggarbe, France
CWG additional information:- Son of Harry and Elizabeth Hunt, of 6, Bothamsall, Retford. Research by Colin Dannatt
