Name
Arthur George Hunt
4 February 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/12/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Stoker 1st Class
K/10522
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Natal"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Panel 11
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Welwyn Garden City Memorial, Hatfield Hyde Village Memorial, St. Mary Magdalene, Church Memorial, Hatfield Hyde, Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Arthur George Hunt was born on 4 February 1893 in Hitchin, Herts, the son of Frederick William and Lizzie Hunt.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Hatfield Hyde, where his father was working as a Cowman. His parents remained in Hatfield Hyde on the 1911 Census, then living at of 15 Sandpit Cottages, but Arthur was listed as a Stoker, serving with the Royal Navy and living at the Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham.
Arthur had enlisted with the Royal Navy on 20 February 1911, and was serving as a Stoker.
Wartime Service
He served on board HMS Natal from 17 September 1912 to 8 April 1914 and again from 16 April 1914 until 30 December 1915. Arthur was killed on board HMS Natal when the ship was at anchor in the Cromarty Firth, Scotland . There was an internal ammunition explosion, possibly due to faulty cordite, and the ship sunk with the loss of 421 crewmen and civilian visitors, including women and children, but 400 of the crew survived.
His body was not recovered for burial and his name is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of September 1914, in the list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Hunt, Arthur G. Hatfield Hyde on H.M.S. NATAL.” and then in February 1916: “Drowned in H.M.S. “NATAL” – Arthur Hunt. War Notes, The sinking of H.M.S. “NATAL” in the Mediterranean has alas, involved the death of Stoker Arthur Hunt of Hatfield Hyde, to whose parents we tender our heartfelt sympathy. Once again this terrible war has thrown a Hatfield family into grief for the loss of a young life, and taken toll of our gallant defenders.”
Wikipedia: On 30 December 1915, Natal was lying in the Cromarty Firth with her squadron, under the command of Captain Eric Back. The captain was hosting a film party onboard and had invited the wives and children of his officers, one civilian friend and his family, and nurses from the nearby hospital ship Drina to attend. A total of seven women, one civilian male, and three children were in attendance that afternoon. Shortly after 15:25, and without warning, a series of violent explosions tore through the rear part of the ship. She capsized five minutes later. Some thought that she'd been torpedoed by a German U-boat or detonated a submarine-laid mine, but examination of the wreckage revealed that the explosions were internal. The divers sent to investigate the ship reported that the explosions began in either the rear 9.2-inch shell room or the 3-pounder and small arms magazine. The Admiralty court-martial in the causes of her loss concluded that it was caused by an internal ammunition explosion, possibly due to faulty cordite. The Admiralty issued a revised list of the dead and missing that totalled 390 in January 1916, but did not list the women and children on board that day. Losses are listed from 390 to 421.
Awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal &Victory Medal.
Additional Information
Brother to Frederick William Hunt who served with the London Regiment and was killed in action on 17 August 1917.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Hunt (Mother) of 15, Sandpit Cottages received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
