Private 22065 John Amos Hunt
Photograph courtesy of John Hunt's nephew, Lawson Hunt.
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 31st July 1917, age 22.
Commemorated on Panel 22 of Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
11th Bn., South Wales Borderers. 115th Brigade of 38th Division.
Son of William and Ellen Hunt, of 60, High St., Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Newport, Monmouthshire, Resident: Coseley.
First landed France & Flanders, 4th December 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.
Commemorated on the St. John's Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1615469/
Genealogical Data
1901 Census
97 Albert Street, Sedgley, Staffs.
Amos Green (66, General Labourer, born Binton, Bucks), his wife Eliza (64, born Binton, Bucks), and their grandson: John Amos Hunt (6, born Sedgley).
1911 Census
8 Edge Street, Wallbrook, Coseley, Staffs.
William Hunt (41, Iron Moulder, born Prince's End), his wife Ellen Harding (44, born Coseley), and their 5 surviving children of 8: John Amos (16, General Labourer, born Prince's End), Margaret Hannah (15, House Work, born Prince's End), William Edgar (13, Driller, born Prince's End), Walter (9, School, born Coseley), and Leonard (4, School, born Coseley).
Personal Data
In 1914 John was living in Newport for work purposes, he had relatives in the Steel Mills who found a job for him. He enlisted with the 11th Battalion (2nd Gwent) South Wales Borderers which became part of the 115th Brigade of 38th Welsh Division.
After John's death he was not owed any army pay or allowances, in fact he owed the army £3/0/1d (3 pounds and 1 penny) - no attempt seems to have been made to reclaim this from his next of kin. His War Gratuity was £10/0/0d (10 pounds precisely), this was paid to his father William in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that John had enlisted in April 1915.
Action resulting in his death
The 38th Division had suffered severe casualties in the 1916 Somme campaign during the capture of Mametz Wood, and had taken part in no major attack in the next year. The Third Battle of Ypres was to start on 31st July 1917, and the 38th Division was again to be involved. Their objective was to capture the Pilckem Ridge and Pilckem village itself, using 113th and 114th Brigades with 115th Brigade in reserve. Once the Ridge and village were taken, the 115th Brigade was advance through and continue to the Steenbeck.
The objectives were taken and, after a flanking movement around the village of Pilckem, the 115th Brigade reached and crossed the Steenbeck. The Germans launched a counter-attack at 3.10 pm which was easily repulsed except at "Au Bon Gite" where they had some local success against the 11th South Wales Borderers who were forced to retire. The first day of Third Ypres had achieved success in this area, and the gains were held.
It was at some time during this day that Private Hunt was killed. His remains were never identified and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
It was a month later, 31st August, before the Germans attempted another attack to re-gain their losses, but this attack was easily broken up by artillery and machine gun.
Newspaper Cuttings
None.