WW1 Casualty: Private 4295 Arthur Hunter - Private 4295 Arthur Hunter
| Unit/Regiment |
1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
10/08/1916 |
Age at Death |
33 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 7 A and 7 B |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of the late Joseph and Sarah Jane Hunter; husband of Jane Hunter, of 20, Hulton Avenue, Whiston, Prescot, Lancs |
| Census Details |
1901 -
Arthur, aged 17 and single, worked as a General Labourer at Wire Works. He lived with parents Joseph James (47), Sarah Jane (46) and siblings Alfred (22), Albert (15), Beatrice (12) and Harold (4) at 16 Cumber Lane
1911 -
Arthur, 28, was a Coal Miner, and lived with wife Jane (28) and daughter Beatrice (5 months) at 16 Cumber Lane
|
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Arthur married Jane Mercer on 30th April 1910 at St Nicholas Church, Whiston. Children Beatrice (1910), William H (1911) and Gladys (1912). |
| Enlisted |
St Helens |
| Resided |
Whiston |
| Notes |
Identified as a casualty by John Yates |
| Research Ref. No. |
P344 |
Service DetailsArthur Hunter enlisted on 20th August 1915, joining the 1/5th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment. He was the elder brother of Harold Hunter
After training he embarked from Southampton on 4th December 1915 as part of a reinforcement draft.
By early August 1916, the Battalion were heavily involved in the fighting of the Somme campaign. Extracts from the Battalion War Diary are reproduced below.
9th August 1916
2:00 am
Commanding Officer with Adjutant arrived at proposed Bn HQ A5d 89 and found 2 Bts 165 Inf Bde (5th and 7th King's Liverpool) in possession. Informed 166 Inf Bde HQ and were able to move up to Sunken Road T30C.
3:00 am
Established HQ in Sunken Road. Company Officers warned of change HQ and sent for to explain changed scheme of attack as issued in operation orders. No time to go into detail or for Coy Commander to explain to Coy Officers and NCO's as attack was timed for 4:30 am. Owing to all NCO's and Bn and Coy runners having no idea of the country and the Sunken Road being crowded with men of 164 Bde, great delay was caused in getting the Coys out in position.
3:55 am
North Lancs just arriving and Officer in Command said he had only just heard they were going to attack
4:15 am
Our guns opened a heavy barrage and the Germans dropped their barrage within 3 minutes. Their back barrage line being on Sunken Road. Companies not all in position had to move this barrage. Those in position moved forward behind assaulting waves but whole line was unable to make headway owing to machine gun fire and heavy barrage. Whole line fell back and manned our original front line. Coys hopelessly intermixed with men of other attacking Battalions
12:00 Noon
Orders to withdraw Coys from line and relieve 1/5th Loyal North Lancs in Left Sector in front of Trones Wood. Relief complete 5:00 pm. 5th Kings Own relieved 10th Liverpool Regt on our right also during afternoon.
10th August 1916
Battalion worked hard clearing trenches and consolidating line.
4:00 pm
Relief started by 8th West Kent Regt 72nd Bde. Relief complete 8:00 pm and Bn moved back to Bivouacs in F22. Total casualties from 12 midnight the 8th until 12 midnight the 10th, 8 Officers 130 Other Ranks.
Arthur Hunter was one of those killed in this fighting. His body was never identified and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.
He was entitled to Victory Medal, BWM, 1914/15 Star
The Register of Soldiers Effects, shown below, recorded his widow, Jane, as next of kin
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