HUNT, William Arnold
| Service Numbers: | QX36180, Q6249 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 October 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wondai, Queensland, Australia, 21 October 1922 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Skin Cancer, Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Redcliffe Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: | Wondai Shire Honour Roll WW2 |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Lance Corporal, QX36180, also Q6249 - FTD 14/11/1941? Died Jul 2010 (C'Mail 3/7/10) | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 1941: | Involvement Lance Corporal, Q6249, FTD 14/11/1941? - also QX36180 - died Jul 2010 (C/Mail 3/7/10) | |
| 6 Oct 1941: | Enlisted | |
| 14 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Corporal, QX36180, 2nd/12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Mar 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Corporal, QX36180, 2nd/12th Infantry Battalion |
William Arnold Hunt (Bill)
Bill did not really talk much about his service but there are a few stories from his time in Papua New Guinea and Borneo that are known. During his service he fought against Japanese forces in a mountainous area near Milne Bay (shaggy ridge?). He spoke of being wounded while operating a large machine gun that required 2 men to operate. Bill was aiming and his counterpart was loading the shells into the gun. They came under fire and Bill was shot in the leg his companion unfortunately passed away from his injuries. Bill was rescued and transported down to Milne Bay by the "fuzzy wuzzy angels" to an Australian ship with a surgeon on board who was able to save his leg.
Returning to service he was stationed at a prisoner of war camp in Borneo at Balakpapan.
Submitted 25 April 2024 by Jaye Guarrera
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