Name
Bertram Hunt
Circa 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/07/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31506
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
51st Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SUNKEN ROAD CEMETERY, FAMPOUX
I. B. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
Bertram was born around 1890 in Hitchin and his parents were Thomas and Esther (sometimes Hester or Ester) (née Hall). They married in St Mary, Hitchin on 25 December 1883.
In 1891 the family were living at 16 Corries, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Thomas (36) and Esther (31), working as a plumber’s labourer. Their children were: Arthur (13), George (7), William (4) and Bertie (Bertram, 1).
In 1901 the family were living at 7 Davis’ Alley, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with Thomas now working as a plumber. Of the children listed above, Arthur was absent. They had a new sibling Frederick (9) and Lily (6).
By 1911 the family had moved to 53 Queen Street, Hitchin, as address used for all other records used here. Present were both parents, with Thomas – now recorded as Tom, working as a plumber’s labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 30 years with 6 children, all living. The children now listed were: George (28), William (24), Bert now 21 and working as labourer for a fruitier, Lily (17), Fred (19), Violet (10).
His military record give his siblings, on 17 April 1919 as George (35), William (31), Florence (Stevens and 24) and Violet (17).
He enlisted as Private 23394 in the Bedfordshire Regiment on 15 November 1915 in Hitchin. He was 27 years and 1 month, living at 53 Queen’s Street, Hitchin, working as a hawker. He was described as 5’ 9 ½” and 140 lbs.
Before joining the army he was a salesman for Mr Furr, the fish merchant of Bridge Street in Hitchin.
Officially Bertram was recorded as born and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
After enlistment he joined the Bedfordshires on 20 November 1915 and was at the Training Depot the following day.
After training he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 12 April 1916, landed in France on 25 June 1916 and on 5 July 1916, was posted to the 62 Company Machine Gun Corps. Joining them in the Field the following day. He was wounded 8 days later (14th) and admitted to 21 Field Ambulance, diagnosed with ‘Shock Shell’ and sent to 34 Casualty Clearing Station on the same day. He was moved to 6 A.T. (believed Ambulance Train) the following day and admitted to 14 General Hospital at Wimereaux, classed as ‘W Shell Shock’ – Wounded Shell Shock, confirming that he had been wounded as well as having shell shock. From there he was sent to England via the Hospital Ship St Denis on the 16th. His service records suggests that he was also posted 9th Coy. on 16 July 1916.
He received ‘Home’ leave between to Hitchin 26 August and 4 September 1916, presumably part if his recovery. However, in England he was in hospital for 24 days from the 18th September 1916 and then posted 7 Coy 19 September 1916.
There is a note, undated, in his service record that says he was considered fit for “Light duty, and not likely to be fit for service overseas within three months.” - this probably relates to the above events.
He returned to France via Boulogne on 20 January 1917, going to Camiers Base Depot on the same date. He joined 51 Company, M.G.C in the Field 8 March 1917, wounded in action on 13 July 1917 and fied of those wounds in 51 Field Ambulance on the same day.
Present when he died was Private J. Stevens of the Royal Army Medical Corps who was an old friend and school-fellow whose home was in Whinbush Grove Road, Hitchin.
There is a copy of the telegram reporting his death with his service record.
He was buried in Plot I, Row B, Grave 6 of the Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux in France.
Additional Information
The pension cards for Bertram and his brother, Frederick, share information, i.e. that their mother, Esther Hunt, living at 53 Queens Street, Hitchin, was their dependant. Frederick Hunt died on 26 March 1917.
His personal property was sent to his mother on 3 November 1917, his death plaque and scroll in 9 December 1920, his medals on 15 February 1920.
Another brother, William, also served Salonika and had been hospitalised by illness.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
