Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bob Hunt was the youngest child of Francis (Frank) David & Amelia Hunt (nee Gower), born at Kiel Street, Beenleigh. The family lived at Redland Bay, Queensland, where They had settled after arriving from England in 1910. Soon after Bob was born the family moved to 306 Tingal Road Wynnum, and in 1924 Bob was enrolled at Wynnum North State School. Bob spent his early years as a labourer and a fisherman around the Wynnum and Moreton Bay area. When the war broke out Bob signed up, and after training was assigned to the 2/9 Battalion A.I.F and served in the Middle East & Egypt, then sent to Greece. While fighting on the Island of Crete, Bob became sick from Jaundice and was admitted to hospital. When Troops were evacuated Bob missed the boat, but his mate Raymond Rice stayed with him and nursed him until better, They were captured by the Germans, and spent the rest of the war in German prisoner of war camps. Stalag VII A & Stalag VIII B.

Repatriated to Eastbourne Sussex, and took leave to visit his Aunt Alice and explore his parents old house and farm. Bob and Ray were back in Australia by the end of July 45, and Bob was discharged sep 45.

The Author remembers his uncle Bob presenting him with his first fishing rod whin he was about 6 or 7 years old.

Bob continued working as a fisherman, and living at home with his parents, Following his cousin Ivy’s lengthy stay with his parents in 1957 he married her in 1959 in Queensland and then emigrated to be with her in New Zealand. He made a reasonable income from working as a labourer and fisherman. He also organised fishing trips while living in Mokau in the Taranaki region on North Island. Mokau is about an hour’s drive north of New Plymouth. By the early 1980s he had moved with Ivy to 22 Tate Road, Waitara which is about 15 km northeast of New Plymouth. He died there, aged 70, on 15 July 1989.