HUNTER, John
| Service Number: | 4816 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kincardine, Fife, Scotland, 29 March 1888 |
| Home Town: | Beenak, Yarra Ranges, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4816, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4816, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4816, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4816, 58th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4816 awm_unit: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
It seems that John Hunter was born in Scotland during 1888 but had come to Australia with his family when only a few years old. He was the son of James D. and Mary Anne Hunter and had eight brothers and sisters. His family lived at Beenak, a small town near Gembrook, about 60 kilometres north east of Melbourne. His father was a local councillor and a JP.
John had married Margaret Winifred Witham in February 1916, just prior to embarking and they were living in Yarraville. She was only 20 years of age when he died.
John Hunter enlisted in the 6th Battalion AIF on the same day as his older brother David Hunter. They left Australia during March 1916 with consecutive regimental numbers and both transferred to the 58th Battalion on arrival in Egypt during April 1916.
John simply disappeared during the assault at Fromelles only a three months later. John was listed as missing until September 1917 when a court of enquiry confirmed his death as 19 July 1916. His brother David suffered a severe gunshot wound to the left thigh during the Fromelles battle. David Hunter was sent home to Australia due to being wounded again in the same thigh at Bullecourt during 1917.
Another brother, 3845 William McPherson Hunter 23rd Battalion AIF, served from 1915 and was wounded with gas poisoning during March 1918. He returned to Australia in 1920 and died in 1935, at 44 years of age.
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