SAPPER WILLIAM KIGHT HUNT
5070 – 2nd Field Company Engineers / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
William Kight Hunt was born in Birmingham, England about 1880. His father’s name is unknown but mother was Sarah Maria Hunt and in 1911 she was living with her two spinster daughters, Katherine Mary Hunt (38) clerk at Dryers & Cleaners and Margaret Elizabeth (34) clerk for Electro Platelayer, in a seven roomed house at 15 Wilson Street, Birchfields, Handsworth, Birmingham, England.
William came to Australia and was an electrical fitter by trade.
At the recruiting depot in Melbourne, Victoria on October 26, 1915 the unmarried thirty-five year old applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. Attestation Forms were completed and reveal the electrical fitter was 172cms (5ft 7½ins) tall, weighed 70kgs (156lbs) with a chest expansion of 89-95cms (35-37½ins). Complexion was medium with grey eyes and had brown hair. Distinctive marks were four vaccination scars on his right arm and tattoos on the left forearm. Religious faith was Baptist.
He stated that both of his parents were dead and nominated his sister Catherine Mary Hunt of 15 Wilson Street, Birchfields, Handsworth, Birmingham, England as next-of-kin. Swearing in took place on November 8, 1915.
After basic training he was allotted to the 13th Reinforcement to the 2nd Field Corps Engineers in Sydney, NSW on December 16, 1915. His rank was Sapper and assigned the regimental number 5070.
The Reinforcements embarked from Sydney, NSW on December 17, 1915 on the HMAT A35 Berrima and arrived two days later in Melbourne, Vic. From there departed for Fremantle, Western Australia docking on December 27 remaining in port until New Year’s Day, 1916 when they sailed for the Suez as their destination. The voyage of thirty-six days was under Master of the Ship, Captain Thomas J. Hyne with Major F.J. Gallagher, the Officer Commanding the Troops. They disembarked on January 23, 1916.
At Tel-el-Kebir on March 18, 1916 he was transferred to the 12th Field Company Engineers and on June 4 they proceeded to join the B.E.F. in France leaving Alexandria on the transport Scotian disembarking at Marseilles on June 11, 1916.
On December 4, 1916 he went sick to hospital and rejoined his unit a fortnight later on December 16.
He was wounded in action on April 11, 1917 and taken to the 4th Aust Field Ambulance then moved to the 9th Casualty Clearing Station being conveyed on A.T.23 for admittance to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station suffering a gunshot wound to his left thigh.
On April 19, 1917 he was sent to England from Boulogne on the hospital ship Jan Brydel and admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton on April 20 for treatment of a severe gunshot wound to the left thigh. Medical notes during his four days as a patient were ‘Small wound. Simple draining good.’
He was transferred to Brewer House, East Grinsmead on April 28, 1917. He returned to Kitchener Military Hospital from May 23 to June 7, 1917 for 15 days and notes stated ‘healed’ and ‘scar on left thigh due to high explosive bullet.’ He went to No. 3 Command Depot on June 23, 1917 entering with ‘no disability now.’
A.I.F. Records advised his sister Katherine Hunt on April 4, 1917 that he had been wounded in action. She advised them that her address was now 164 Birchfield Road, Handsworth, Birmington and this was entered in records on May 7, 1917. Further updates were issued to her on May 18 stating that he was improving and again on June 27 that he was convalescent.
Sapper Hunt was classified on June 23 at the No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott with B1a4 debility which was reclassed on July 4, 1917 to A3 debility. On July 6 he marched out for the Overseas Training Depot at Perham Downs and after a week transferred to the Engineers’ Training Depot at Brightlingsea on July 14.
From Brightlingsea he proceeded to France from Southampton on October 22, 1917 arriving at the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles the next day. On October 26 he left for the 4th Division Engineers and rejoined his unit on November 8, 1917.
His civil qualification of electrical fitter would benefit the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and was transferred and taken on Supernumerary strength on May 19, 1918 and paid up to this date in France.
Disciplinary action was taken with the company on June 27, 1918 for the following:
Crime:W.O.A.S. [While on Active Service] 26/6/18
(1)Forcing a sentry
(2)Contra-action of standing order of 8/5/18 inasmuch as he left camp
after 9.45 p.m. and remained about until after 12.10 a.m.
Award:14 days F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment] by C.O.
He was taken on strength with the company on August 1, 1918.
He went to hospital at the 4th Canadian C.C.S. for dental treatment the transferred to the 3rd Mobile Dental Hospital at the 12th Stationary Hospital two days later and admitted for loss of teeth. He was discharged to his unit on October 31, 1918.
On the day Peace was declared he proceeded on leave and rejoined five days overdue on December 1, 1918. The Commanding Officer administered the following as a result:
Crime:W.O.A.S. 26/11/18 A.W.L. by overstaying leave to U.K.
Absent from 6.30 a.m. 26/11/18 until reporting at 6.30 a.m.
30/11/18 (96 hours)
Award:Forfeits 14 day’s pay by C.O. 2/12/18
Total forfeiture:18 day’s pay
The company remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and supply small engines and pumps for water supplies to those assisting with the rehabilitation of their districts.
He went before the Medical Board at Marreiul, France on February 23, 1919 and his Statement of Case reads:
Disability:Nil
Finding:Fit for General Service
Orders were issued to prepare for demobilisation on March 8, 1919 and they marched out to the Aust Infantry Base Depot on March 17 and crossed the English Channel from France arriving at the No. 2 Training Brigade at Codford the next day.
The Aust Army Medical Corps Officer at Codford on March 21, 1919 confirmed the findings from France on February 23 in preparation for return to Australia.
After demobilisation Sapper Hunt boarded at Devonport, England the H.T. Zealandia on May 11, 1919 for the voyage to Australia. During the voyage his medical records stated ‘No Change - Nil’.
The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on June 28, 1919. Their arrival was reported in:
He appeared before a Medical Board at Dudley Road, Kew which found on overseas papers he had no disability. At the 5th Aust General Hospital as an A.I.F. Outpatient he had general and pathology tests taken and at his next medical appointment on July 21, 1919 his present condition and progress noted that beyond the scrape from barbed wire, he had no disability. Heart, Lungs and Urine tests were all clear with work capacity marked as nil and was recommended for discharge.
Military Discharge took place on September 19, 1919 in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) as medically unfit. Later that year his name was listed as William Keight Hunt and his address was the Oriental Hotel, Queenstown, Tasmania with the occupation of electrician.
For serving his country Sapper 5070 William Kight Hunt, 2nd Field Company Engineers / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company received the British War Medal (30134) and the Victory Medal (29924).
Listed in 1922 under William Keith Hunt his residence was 163 Collins Street, Hobart and working as an electrician. A communication to Base Records on August 13, 1922 was received from the ex-member of the A.I.F. giving his address as 163 Collins Street, Hobart, Tasmania in connection with disposal of his War Medals and Returned Soldier’s Badge which was passed to Headquarters 3rd Military District. These were sent by registered post to him in Tasmania and receipted delivery signed for on October 16, 1922.
A copy of his Will went to the Register General’s Office on February 4, 1925. He was living at 54 St George’s Terrace, Hobart, Tasmania and an electrical fitter in 1928.
William Kight/Keith Hunt passed away about March 3, 1931 aged 50 years at Battery Point, Hobart. The following articles concerning his death were reported in the:
He was buried on March 4, 1931 in Section BB of the Cornelian Bay Cemetery, in gravesite no. 106. Religion was noted as UMET and age given as 52 years.
© Donna Baldey 2013