Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Prescot Henry Hunt was born in 1896 in Helensburgh to Rose Cooper and Negus Edward Hunt of Sherbrooke. He is listed as Henry on his birth certificate.
He is the third of eight children, one of only three boys. His siblings were Negus Edwin, William Herbert, Minnie E, Mary A V, Alma R, Rita M and Sylvia I.
He attended school at Helensburgh. On 8th July 1910 when he was 14 his father Negus was killed in a mining accident at the Metropolitan Mine in Helensburgh.
After leaving school he began work as a labourer. His mother remarried in 1912. She married Robert W Mangles. He was a good man to take on eight children. He and Rose had their own child Dulcie M in 1913.

Prescot Henry Hunt joined the army on 28th December 1916 at Victoria Barracks Sydney aged 20yrs 2mths.
He was attached to the 9th Reinforcements 45th Battalion. He was 5ft 6 inches tall, weighed 136 lbs, had a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair just like his brother. His religion was Church of England.
He embarked Sydney on 24th January 1917 on A68 Anchises.
He disembarked at Devonport on 27th March 1917. He went to No 3 N Z hospital sick with Influenza on 17th April 1917 he was discharged from hospital on 1st May 1917.
He proceeded from England and landed at Le Harve France on 15th June 1917. He was taken on strength 45th battalion on 4th July 1917.
On 21st March 1918 he proceeded on leave to UK and returned from leave 8th April 1918.
He was wounded in action in the field at Messines in France on 16th June 1918. He received a shell wounds to the right arm, both legs and right shoulder.
He died of wounds received in action on 19th June 1918.
He was buried by Rev A S Harris at Crouy British Cemetery 10 miles North West of Amiens, France. Plot 2, Row D. Grave 17.
His mother Rose again had to prove her husband Negus was killed in a mine accident so she could make any claims. She had now lost a husband and two of her three sons.
Prescot Henry Hunt made a will like many of the WW1 soldiers and left his effects to his sister Minnie Elizabeth Young. These personal effects consisted of 1 disc, photos, cards, 1 pipe, 1 wallet, 2 YMCA wallets, coins, 1 Brass Charm, 1 Key, 1 knife and badges.
His mother Rose received his British War Medal, Victory Medial and Memorial Plaque and Scroll.
Prescot Henry Hunt died a week after his cousin Francis Joseph Hunt also from Helensburgh
In 1924 during exhumation work, the grave of an unknown Australian soldier was discovered a ¼ mile north of Broodseinde Belgium. Whose remains were buried in a portion of a ground sheet upon which the followings names were inscribed? W. Kloster and P H Hunt. W Kloster survived the war. It was assumed the name P H Hunt referred to 3384 P H Hunt, 45 Battalion, who died of wounds on 19th June 1918 and is buried in the Crouy British Cemetery. I have only just discovered this information so I do not know if this Unknown Soldier is Prescot Henry or if Prescot is actually buried at Crouy British Cemetery stated on his papers.