Category Archives: Memorials

Herbert Hussey

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading University College

Herbert Hussey
Private 39772
1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

 Division 21

Hussey H photo  CIMG2191

Herbert Hussey was the son of Mrs H. Hussey of 32, Northumberland Avenue, Reading.  He is commemorated on the headstone of the grave of his mothers and sisters, number 16635.  Berkshire History Society classification 21G1.

We are told on the caption to his photograph that he died in Aden on his way home from India.  Notification of his death was published in the Reading Standard April 5th 1919.  Herbert Hussey had served for 3 years 4 months in the Army.  Prior to the outbreak of war he had spent several years in France and Germany.  He joined up as a volunteer a year after the outbreak of war and belonged to the 1st Garrison Somerset Battalion attached to the Hampshire Regiment.  He was sent to France but invalided home in July 1917.  He recovered and was sent to India in December 1918 with the Somerset Light Infantry.  He started his return home on 24th February 1919 but died on the17th March 1919.  He is buried in Maala Cemetery, Yemen.  Location G. 6.

By profession Herbert Hussey was a schoolmaster.  He had trained at Culham College and taught at for some time at Grovelands school.  He was the Assistant organist at All Saint’s Church and organist and choirmaster at St. Georges Church.  He was a member of the Choral Society of University College Reading and a well-known concert performer.

Charles Frederick Hunt

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, St. Batholomew's Church

Charles Frederick Hunt
Staff Sergeant 158072 155th Heavy Battery
Royal Garrison Artillery

Division 82
Extension

Hunt CF photo Hunt CF Rcem com2

 

Charles Frederick Hunt  was the son of James and Amy Hunt, of Reading.  He is commemorated on his parents grave, number 17522.

Charles Hunt died of wounds in Genoa Hospital, on  21ST June 1918 aged 38.  He is buried in Staglieno Cemetery Genoa, location I.B.15.

The Reading Standard 6 July 1918 published an obituary.:

“Charles Hunt had been educated at Newtown Board School.  After he was apprenticed as a fitter at to Messers. Adams. De Beauvoir Road. For the last ten years he was working for Messers. Wellman Bros. Windsor. He used to sing in St. Bartholomews Church choir and was one of the earliest members of the St. Paneras Guild taking an active part in the annual ameateur theatricals and cricket. Staff Serjeant Hunt left England for France in June 1917  and in the following November proceded to Italy. For some weeks he had been Acting  Quartermaster and expected to obtain leave within a few days. He leaves a widow and one daughter.”

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