HUNTER, Alpha
| Service Numbers: | 496, 4810 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 September 1915, Place of Enlistment, Brisbane, Queensland. |
| Last Rank: | Company Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 November 1881 |
| Home Town: | Kingaroy, South Burnett, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Natural Causes , Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 17 December 1963, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: |
Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland Portion 2, Row 50, Grave No 10. |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1889: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 496, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 496, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB Draft embarked at Pinkenba 10 Mar 1901 aboard Chicago arriving Port Elizabeth 20 Apr 1901. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 496, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4810, 26th Infantry Battalion, Place of Enlistment, Brisbane, Queensland. | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 4810, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Mooltan embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 12 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 4810, 26th Infantry Battalion, RMS Mooltan, Sydney | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 26th Infantry Battalion | |
| 16 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 4810, 26th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Alpha Hunter served in the South African (Boer) war, WW1, and WW2 (home service).
First service was as a Private S.N. 496, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Second service was as a Private S.N. 4810, 26th Infantry Battalion, AIF, WW1. Third service was as a Lance Corporal S.N. Q186929, 1 Garrison Battalion (Brisbane), WW2.
Alpha Hunter was part of a draft of men established to follow, and embarked some four days after, the main 5th QIB contingent to South Africa. The men in the draft were not included in the original nominal roll for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives.
When he enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB (Boer War) and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, his N.O.K. was noted as his mother Mrs. S. E. Knibb, Cemetery Rd, Mount Morgan. His mother Sarah Elizabeth Hunter had married William Casemore Knibb on 10 Feb 1888, and they were all living at Cemetery Rd, Mount Morgan when Alpha enlisted.
Alpha Hunter was born on 27 Nov 1881 at Brisbane, a son to Sarah Hunter. He first married Mary Jane Cox on 28 Aug 1904, and they had one child in 1910. Sadly, his wife Mary passed on 17 Aug 1911, closely followed by his son on 15 Dec 1911.
When he enlisted on 20 Sep 1915 for WW1, he noted on his Attestation Paper that; he was born at Brisbane and was 33 years old; he was a carpenter and a widower; his N.O.K. was his mother Mrs. S. E. Knibb, Mount Morgan; and he had previously served in South Africa with the 5th QIB. He married again to Mary Ann Elizabeth Taylor on 23 Oct 1915 prior to him embarking for the war, and his service records were later updated to his wife as N.O.K. Alpha and Mary would go on to have 3 children.
He enlisted again for WW2 on 13 Oct 1939 and was taken on strength with the 1st Garrison Battalion 1 Jan 1940. His Attestation noted; he was born on 27 Nov 1881 at Brisbane; he was a labourer and married; his N.O.K. was his wife Mary Ann Elizabeth Hunter, Bardon; and he had previously served in WW1 with the 26th Inf. Battalion, AIF.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 504; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 10; National Archives Australia WW1 and WW2 service records).
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