Category Archives: Countries

Edward William Hunt & Sidney Richard Hunt

Army, Canadian, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Somme, Y.M.C.A., Ypres

E.W.Hunt
Rifleman 2216
The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regt.) also Queen’s Westminster Rifles 

Hunt EW photo

Edward William Hunt lived at 74, South Street, Reading. His father was a grocer and he had an elder brother and three sisters. Edward died of wounds on 14th March 1915.  He is buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres.  Location IX. C. 41.   His grave is just a few yards away from that of Leslie Thomson who is also commemorated in the Reading Cemetery.

Rifleman Hunt was an old boy of Reading Collegiate School.  He was employed at Liberty’s, London as an apprentice draper but joined up at the outbreak of war and was sent to the front in November 1914.  The Standard 23rd March 1915, printed a letter from a friend which explained how Edward Hunt met his death.  He was employed in sniping operations on the morning of his death.  He had three more rounds to fire when he was shot.  He was buried the following day.

Sidney  Richard Hunt
Private 227059
54th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regt.)

 Sidney Richard Hunt was the elder brother of Edward William Hunt. The 1911 census indicates that he was seven years older than Edward.  Sidney was a grocers assistant, presumably in his fathers shop. It is not known when he went to Canada.

He died on 16th October 1918 and is buried in Sauchy-Cauchy Communal Cemetery Extension, Location B. I.  The village of Sauchy-Cauchy was captured by the 56th (London) Division on the 27th September 1918.  The Communal Cemetery Extension was made by the division in September and October, 1918.  After the Armistice graves were brought in from the German Extension and battle fields.  Exact details about the death of Sidney Richard Hunt are not known.

Note: The names of these two men were noted when the Berkshire Family History Society chronicled the monument inscriptions in the Reading Cemetery in the 1990’s.  When the author tried to find the names only the family headstone could be found.  The body of the grave has sunk and kerbs have been removed. The grave number is 12484; BFHS classification is 66A9

Kenneth John Hinde

Australian, Commemorated name/s, Dardanelles

Kenneth John Hinde
Second Lieutenant
3rd Battalion Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

Division 68
Extension

Kenneth John Hinde, was the son of Surgeon Major General George Langford Hinde, C.B. and Frances Mary Crawford Hinde.  He was a native of Dover. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 8. 

Casualty Record Detail

 

Kenneth Hinde died on 15th May 1915 on board H.M. Transport ’Gloucester Castle’, of wounds received in the head during fighting in Gallipoli.  He was buried at sea near Alexandria.  He is commemorated on his parents’ grave in Reading Cemetery.  Berkshire Family History Society classification 68C26 and on the Lone Pine Memorial, panel 19.

 The Lone Pine Memorial at the end of the Lone Pine Cemetery is inscribed with the following words.

Casualty Record Detail

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LASTING MEMORIAL OF 3,268 AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT ON GALLIPOLI IN 1915 AND HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE, AND 456 NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS WHOSE NAMES ARE NOT RECORDED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE PENINSULA BUT WHO FELL IN THE ANZAC AREA AND HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVES; AND ALSO 960 AUSTRALIANS AND 252 NEW ZEALANDERS WHO, FIGHTING ON GALLIPOLI IN 1915, INCURRED MORTAL WOUNDS OR SICKNESS AND FOUND BURIAL AT SEA.

Harold Guille

Army, Canadian, Commemorated name/s, Graves, Other Regiments, Reading School War Memorial, Ypres

Harold Guille
Private 442387
7th Battalion Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)

 Divison 19

Guille H photo  CIMG2094

Harold Guille  was the son of Mr. & Mrs. George C. Guille , of 28, Castle Crescent, Reading. The 1901 census indicated that Harold had two older sisters and a step brother. At the time Harold was fifteen and no occupation is given for him. Further information pertaining to Harold Guille is held in Canadian records and 1911 census however, the CWGC register indicated that he was the husband of May Guille, of Nelson, British Columbia.   He was killed in action on the 15th April 1916, aged 31. 

Harold Guille is buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), near Ypres. Plot IV. Row E. 30.  The burial ground was started during 1915 and during 1916 and 1917 the farm was usedby Advanced Dressing Stations. After the Armistice the burial ground became a concentration cemetery.

 The Second Battle of Ypres drew to a conclusion on 24th May 1915.  With it the intense action of the conflict assumed a lower key but, although quieter in many respects, men were still suffering and dying in terrible circumstances.  Shelling, mining and raids of one sort or another took their toll of lives.  Actions to straighten out the line took place at Bellwaarde Ridge and Hooge Château in July 1915, the British used a massive mine and the Germans used “liquid fire” to reek destruction.  Working parties moved through sickening mud and slime, all around the smell of unburied dead.  Later in the year the Battle of Loos began and ended, here the British used gas for the first time.  Gallipoli was finally evacuated in January 1916, Verdun was attacked in February and the “Big Push” planned for the summer.  Around Ypres the shelling, mining, counter mining, trench raids, snow, rain, frost and lice were endured by both sides.  On both sides men died in abominable circumstances.