HUNTER, William George
| Service Number: | 6581 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 November 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Balmain, New South Wales, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | North Sydney, North Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Surveyor |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Nov 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 6581, 20th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement Private, 6581, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked Private, 6581, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
William George Hunter was a man born on 16 January 1895 in Balmain, NSW, Australia. He attended Sydney Technical High School and after school had a job working as a surveyor.
William George Hunter enlisted on 24th November 1916 and began his training at the Sydney Showgrounds. On 24 January 1917, William George Hunter embarked on the HMAT A68 Anchises. He disembarked at Devonport on 27 March 1917, two months after embarking.
He arrived as a private in the 20th battalion. He and his battalion participated in a number of battles, including the Battle of Bullecourt and the Battle of Messines. Hunter participated in the Battle of Bullecourt which happened on 11 April 1917 which was intended to help the ongoing battle in Arras, however due to rushed planning they did not succeed. He and his battalion also participated in the Battle of Messines which happened on 7 June 1917, which was successful. Capturing this ridge protected the flank of the British in preparation for the Third Battle of Ypres. His battalion would constantly be on guard and continue on the defensive when not participating in battles, including training and reconnaissance.
On 28 August 1917, William George Hunter was transferred to the 55th battalion. However on the very next day, he was hospitalized due to multiple gunshot wounds on his left arm, right side, and knee. Here he demonstrated his ANZAC spirit by continuing to fight shortly after recovery and despite the fear that he surely would’ve felt.
On 14 September 1917 he was promoted to Corporal. Not long after, he participated in the battle of Polygon wood which began on 26 September 1917. The battle was part of a trio in the Third Battle of Ypres which the AIF participated in, and he along many other battalions followed the orders of Pompey Elliot and successfully obtained their objectives. Between battles, he fulfilled his duties as corporal through teaching drills for marching, training recruits and checking the supplies of each soldier.
He would survive the war and eventually return to Australia and his parents, including his father William George Hunter on 15 February 1918. After his experience in World War One and making his way home, he further demonstrated his ANZAC spirit by deciding to participate in World War Two.
References
https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=210825&c=WW2
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=4377787&isAv=N
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Archives/2011-and-Prior/Corporals/
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84337
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/western-front/battle-of-messines
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84354
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4377787
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/training