Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born Henry Russell HUNTSMAN, September 1892 at Coburg, Victoria

Father Charles James HUNTSMAN and Mother Mima HUNTSMAN,
they lived at Loch in Victoria
later at "Nestor", corner St Kilda Street and Glyndon Avenue, Brighton, Victoria.

Older Brother:  Walter Huntsman

Henry lived at 113 Chapel Street, Windsor, VIC on enlisting

Next of kin in service:  (cousin)
late Sergeant  A J Polson.

Actively interested in the different sporting clubs of his district and also his Regiment.

Henry was described on enlisting as 23 years  11 months of age; single; 5' 6.5" tall;
123 lbs; medium complexion; grey eyes; black hair; Presbyterian

24/07/1916      enlisted in Melbourne, VIC

22/09/1916      appointed to 21st reinforcements, 7th Battalion, at Castlemaine Camp

02/10/1916      embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A71 Nestor
                       as a Private with 7th Battalion, 21st Reinforcement
16/11/1916       disembarked into Plymouth, England

16/11/1916      sick with Influenza - admitted to 3rd Auxillary Hospital, Devonport, England
06/12/1916      discharged 3rd Auxillary Hospital to Weymouth

07/12/1916      marched in to No. 2 Australian Com Depot, Weymouth, England

11/12/1916      On Staff No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth, England

08/01/1917      marched out to Perham Downs,

12/01/1917      marched out to A Group, Larkhill, ex Perham Downs
13/01/1917      marched in to 2nd Training Battalion, Durrington, England

10/04/1917      proceeded overseas to France, ex Folkestone
11/04/1917      arrived into Etaples, France
14/04/1917      proceeded to his unit

19/04/1917      taken on strength into 7th Infantry Battalion


20/09/1917      hit by a shell and knocked unconscious - killed in action
                       at Black Watch Corner, Polygon Wood, Belgium

Buried in:         the side of the trench of where he was killed
                       (noted by his comrades in his battalion)
                       Buried alongside Private 1945 William Gilbert Grace and
                                                Private 6987 Charles Arthur Eacott - all killed together.

23/01//1918     stated by Private 6479 Edward Henry Coningsby - 7th Battalion - London
                      "re 6509 Pte H R Huntsman reported killed in action. I am pleased that I
                       can give you the particulars you require of his death as I happened to be
                       near by when it happened. It was on Sept. 20th about mid-day we had
                       reached our final objective and consolidated our position. Pte Huntsman
                       was on post, near him was Lieutenant Attwood, Pte Grace and Pte Eacott.
                       A shell burst and killed the four of them and wounded three others.
                       His personal belongings were taken from his pockets and handed into
                       battalion office from there they would be forwarded to his mother.
                       Lieutenant Attwood's body was taken away by stretcher bearers and
                       Ptes Huntsman, Grace and Eacott were buried side by side near where
                       they fell.  It was just near Polygon Wood.
                       We erected three little wooden crosses and attached the identity disc
                       which is used for that purpose, so you will see they were buried on the
                       field. 
                       I came over with the same reinforcements as Pte Huntsman, was in camp
                       in England with him and we also came over to France on the same draft
                       and joined the battalion the same time.
                       I always found him a good comrade.  He was very popular with all the
                       boys in the platoon, we were very sorry to lose him.
                       If it is his mother who is enquiring about him, you may offer her my
                       sincerest sympathy.  I used to work near her shop in Praran and knew her
                       but she wound not know me."

Sadly - Pte 6479 E H Coningsby was killed in action 7 months to the day of this statement
                         on 23/08/1918 at St Martins Wood
                         buried in:  Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France
                                         Plot III, Row G, Grave No. 14

Nov 2014         Confirmed by:   Researchers
                       Andrew Pittaway, of Fremantle and Dennis Frank, of Melbourne
                       they wrote to Brigadier Appleton outlining their case

                       Brigadier Appleton said the researchers' case was confirmed by research by
                       the Office of Australian War Graves and the Commonwealth War Graves
                       Commission. 
                       He said "Mr Pittaway was 'an extraordinary man'. As a result of his work,
                                    we've been able to identify the graves of two Australians, by name,
                                    and previously they'd been known only to God." 

Keith Huntsman, 92, of Blackburn, nephew of Private Huntsman, thanked Mr Pittaway and Mr Frank for tracking down his uncle Harry. "It's a very fine service to the community," he said. "It's always been unfinished business in that Harry's grave has never been found."

Private Eacott's great-niece Sandra Johnston, of the Gold Coast, QLD, said she is happy there will be a grave for future generations to visit, and relatives had commented on "what fantastic work" the researchers had done. She wants to attend the ceremony in Belgium.

20/9/2015        A rededication service was held at CWGC Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium.

                       later his body was exhumed and reburied in:
                                     Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium
                                     Joint grave Plot I, Row D, Graves 19-20
                                    (with Private 6987 Charles Arthur Eacott)

Pte 1945 William Gilbert Grace is buried alongside the joint grave at Plot I, Row D, Grave 18.

His name is commemorated on:-
- Panel 7 at The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium; and
- Panel 50 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT

Medals:             British War medal (48337), Victory medal (47759)
                        Memorial Plaque and Scroll (332043)

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  16/01/2017.  Lest we forget.

The final resting place of Pte Henry HUNTSMAN was previously under a headstone bearing the inscriptions “A Soldier of the Great War” in the Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium. It was identified (along with others) by researchers Andrew Pittaway and Dennis Frank of the volunteer group Fallen Diggers.

"...6509 Private Henry Russell Huntsman, 7th Battalion from Windsor, Victoria. A 24 year old labourer prior to enlistment on 24 July 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 21st Reinforcements from Melbourne on 2 October 1916 aboard HMAT Nestor. He was killed in action at Polygon Wood, Belgium on 20 September 1917 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)