Name
Charles Herbert Hunt
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
90378
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
25th Bn. 'C' Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 10
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Charles was born in 1893 in Hitchin and christened 16 September 1893. His parents were Walter and Anna Eleanor Hunt.
In 1901 the family were living at 5 Crispin Terrace, Union Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Walter (33) and Anna (29), with x working as a painter. Their children were: Charles Hubert (8), Stanley William (5), Florence May (4), Elsie Eleanor (2) and Walter George at 8 months.
By 1911 the family were living at 9 Bearton Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, x now working as a house painter. The census recorded they had been married for 18 years with 8 children, all living. All the children listed above were present except George. New siblings were Fredrick (7), Albert (6) and William (3). Charles was 17 and working as a baker’s apprentice.
Charles enlisted in February 1916 as Private 39470, Royal West Surrey Regiment.
Before joining up he was a member of the Wesleyan Church in Brand Street Hitchin and sang in the choir.
Officially he was recorded as born and enlisting in Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
At first he was in the Royal West Surrey Regiment with the Regimental Number 39470, which he was presumably with for training. Charles did not go overseas until 1917 and he married Annie E Davis (b 6 June 1891) in the first quarter of 1917.
At some point he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and given the Corps Number 90378.
Charles has an entry in the National Roll of the Great War, these were normally placed by members of the family, it suggests that he enlisted February 1916 and went to France the following year. He serves in France and Belgium and took part in the Third Battle of Ypres (Belgium) and was subsequently killed in action near Cambrai during the retreat on March 21st, 1918, during the German Spring Offensive, whilst serving with the 25th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).
A letter from a friend said that he had been wounded in the shoulder and leg but, because the enemy were advancing, he had to be left behind and was originally lasted a missing wounded. Leaving his wife uncertain of his fate, but with hope the he would survive. While living at Offley Post Office she made enquiries of the International Committee of the Red Cross in respect of her husband. Sadly, the enquiry card is annotated with information from Germa records and states “Disc was sent in (sic’ on’) the 6 June 1918. Killed and buried between Vaulx -Vraucourt".
The German POW records show that Charles was in ‘C’ Company.
Additional Information
After his death £2 14s 6d was authorised to go to his widow, Annie on 30 December 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £4 was authorised to be paid to her, on 12 December 1919.
His pension cards record Annie as his widow and his dependant, living at The Post Office, Offley, nr Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 13s 6d a week from 18 November 1919.
His younger brother was Stanley William Hunt aged 21 years who was in the Royal Field Artillery and was miss-reported as dying in hospital on the 16th December 1916, but in fact survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
