Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ralph Arthur HUNT #5343 26th Battalion

Ralph Hunt was born at Milora, a small farming community between Peak Crossing and Boonah in the Fassifern Valley, south of Ipswich. He attended the Milora School and then worked on the family farm with parents Alice and Arthur Hunt.

Ralph reported to the Brisbane recruiting depot in Adelaide Street on 29th January 1916. He stated his age as 23 years and 5 months and occupation as farmer. Ralph was only 5’3” tall which is borne out by a photograph of Ralph in the collection of the Australian War Memorial. In April 1916 while still in camp at Enoggera, Ralph was allocated as part of the 14th reinforcements of the 26th Battalion. He embarked for overseas on 8th August, allocating 4/- of his 5/- a day pay to an Australian bank account.

Ralph arrived in Plymouth on 18th October and marched in to the 7th Training Battalion at Codford. On 14th December 1916, he entered the vast transit camp at Etaples in France before finally being taken on strength by the 26th Battalion in February of 1917.

The spring of 1917 was a time of significant movement on the Somme. During the previous winter the Germans had constructed a heavily defended series of trenches and blockhouses some distance behind their lines. With the coming of spring, the German forces on the Somme began a strategic withdrawal to the new defences in the east, called by the British the Hindenburg Line. As the Germans withdrew in good order, the British forces which included three Australian divisions carefully followed.

June of 1917 found the 26th Battalion in the reserve lines near the town of Bapaume. Ralph had been designated a runner, in other words a message carrier. On the evening of 23rd June, Ralph received a single gunshot wound to his abdomen, hip and hand. Witnesses all claimed the shot came from a rifle within the battalions own lines. Ralph in spite of his injuries was able to provide a statement which indicated he was delivering a message when he saw a flash and heard a shot in front of him. He could not identify the person responsible. Several officers seized rifles from various shelters in the vicinity but could not locate a weapon that had been recently fired.

Ralph was taken to the 29th Casualty Clearing Station where he died the following morning. He was buried in a temporary graveyard near the CCS and was reinterred into a permanent resting place at Grevillers British Cemetery after the cessation of hostilities.

The 26th Battalion instigated a full inquiry into the incident. Various witnesses were called, including the doctor at the CCS who performed a post mortem to determine the trajectory of the fatal bullet. It was determined that Ralph Hunt had died as a result of an accidental gunshot fired by an unknown person. Mercifully his mother when informed of the circumstances of his death was not told that the fatal shot was friendly fire. She reported in the Roll of Honour Circular that he was killed delivering a despatch.

Alice Hunt received her son’s personal effects and service medals. She was also granted a pension of 30 shillings a fortnight. From the official records available, it is difficult to connect Ralph Hunt to the Kilcoy district. It is possible that Ralph’s name was put forward by a relative of friend. Ralph Hunt is not listed on either the Boonah or Peak Crossing Roll of Honour.