TOPIC:

Henry Harry Hunt

WIA – Gunshot wound to the Right Shoulder – 25 November 1914
WIA – Gunshot wound to the Left Arm – 31 March 1918

Private, Mounted Infantry Company, Middlesex Regiment – Anglo Boer War
Lance Corporal, 4th Middlesex Regiment – WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal (CC/OFS/TVL/SA01/02) to 6057 PTE. H. HUNT. MIDDX: REGT. M.I.
- 1914 Star to L – 6057 PTE H.H. HUNT. 4/MIDD’X. R.
- British War Medal to L – 6057 PTE. H.H. HUNT. MIDD’X. R.
- Victory Medal to L – 6057 PTE. H.H. HUNT. MIDD’X. R.

Harry Hunt was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on 24 September 1876 the son of Thomas Hunt, a Shoemaker by trade and his wife Sarah. The 1881 England census revealed that Harry (4) was at home in St. Mary’s Street, Wycombe along with his parents and siblings – Fanny (7), Lizzie (6) and John (2).

The 1891 England census had the family living at 13 Duke Street, Chipping Wycombe. Harry was now a boy of 15 and out to work as a Chair Polisher. Fanny (19) was a Cook/Domestic Servant as was Lizzie (17). There had been two new additions to the family in the forms of William (10) and Annie (9).

On 27 February 1895 Harry signed up for service with the 3rd battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, a local militia outfit. Completing the necessary forms at High Wycombe he confirmed that he was 17 years and 9 months old, a Polisher by trade in the employ of a Mr. Coles and that he lived with his parents at 13 Duke Street, High Wycombe. He had been previously rejected for service for being “under the chest measurement.”

Physically 5 feet 5 inches in height he had a fair complexion, light brown hair and brown eyes. He sported a small tattoo mark on his left forearm and was a member of the Church of England. Having been passed as Fit by the Doctor, he was assigned no. 2590 and set about his militia duties which would have included regular drill sessions along with attendance at annual camps. He purchased his discharge on 9 January 1897.

As the 19th century drew to a close the might and power of the British Empire was at its zenith. Queen Victoria was in the 62nd year of her reign and Brittania ruled the waves. Far away in South Africa where the British had the colonies of the Cape and Natal, two recalcitrant neighboring Boer Republics were unhappy about the presence of Imperial troops on their borders. An ultimatum, unanswered, was sent and, at midnight on 11 October 1899, the world woke up to a war between the parties.

Hunt, no doubt imbued by the patriotic fervour sweeping the nation, attested for service with the 3rd Middlesex Regiment (militia) at Hounslow on 15 November 1899. Confirming that he was still a Polisher by trade, he added that he was in the employ of Mr. Breden of Hughenden Road, High Wycombe. Now 22 years of age he was 5 feet 6 ¼ inches in height, weighed 119 lbs and had a medium complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. In addition to the tattoo he had two scars on his left scapula. Having been found fit by the Doctor he was assigned no. 1200 and commenced service.

After 49 days of unremitting drill, Hunt decided that it was time he dipped both feet in the water and, taking his discharge on 2 January 1900, he attested for service with the Middlesex Regiment proper the next day. Completing the Short Service attestation forms (7 years with the Colours and 5 years with the Reserve) at Hounslow, he confirmed that he was 21 years and 1 month old and a Labourer by occupation. Assigned no. 6057 (a number he was to keep until the end of WWI), he was posted to the Depot until being posted to the 3rd Battalion on 15 March 1900.

Hunt was to languish in England until 29 March 1901 – it was on this day that, having been selected and trained at Aldershot for the Mounted Infantry Company of the Middlesex Regiment, he set sail for South Africa aboard the City of Cambridge as one of 5 Officers and 137 men destined for the front. It had been decided that each Infantry Battalion must provide a Mounted Infantry Company. Little is known of the exact movements of these Companies but they were absorbed into a number of newly formed structures.


MI watering their horses in 1901

On page 155 of The Story of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) by Charles Lethbridge Kingsford, in a section entitled “Mounted Infantry” he wrote: -

“During the war the 2nd Middlesex furnished detachments to two corps of Mounted Infantry, in addition to the regimental company of Mounted Infantry. The first detachment, under Captain P. M. Large, joined the 5th Division Mounted Infantry on August 17, 1900. It was engaged near Blood River on March 17, 1901, and on September 26 following took part in the brilliant defence of Fort Itala. The second detachment, under Lieut. B. A. Moeller, joined the 14th Battalion Mounted Infantry in November 1900, and took part in General French's campaign in the eastern Transvaal during February/March 1901. In a sharp action at Holland's Farm, near Standerton, on December 19, 1901, Lieut. Moeller, a zealous and promising young officer, was mortally wounded.”

In January, 1901, Lieutenant Bertie Moeller was commissioned to form the company of Mounted Infantry of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment, and, attached to the 14th Mounted Infantry, he took part in the great drives under Generals French, Bruce-Hamilton, and others.

It was in one of the last of these, on December 19, 1901, that he met his death. The little column of 250 men had been riding all night, when at dawn they came in conflict with a party of about 500 Boers, dressed in khaki. Lieutenant Moeller, having got his men in safety, was riding off, when he saw a wounded trooper, who had surrendered, being treacherously shot by the Boers. He rode to his assistance, but was quickly surrounded. He emptied the six chambers of his revolver, and threw the empty weapon in the face of the enemy, before he fell, mortally wounded, from his horse.

They carried him to Standerton, where he lies amongst his fallen comrades.

Moeller kept a diary, published post mortem – in PART IV - With the Mounted Infantry company of the Middlesex Regiment attached to 14th Mounted Infantry, he wrote: -

“December 3rd 1900 - My new regiment is 14th Regiment Mounted Infantry. It is composed of 2nd Middlesex, Manchesters, Gloucesters, East and West Yorks, Essex, and East Lancashires; more yet to come. I am glad to tell you that I am in command of my own company.
April 5 1901.—Nooitgedacht. Reveille at 5. (This was after Hunt had arrived in South Africa) Remained here for the day, with only the usual camp duties. Rode with Brass into Vryheid and bought stores; a most enjoyable ride, and quite a holiday to be off duty. Had lunch in Vryheid. Brass and No. 1 Company got immediate orders to ride off at 8 p.m. to four miles west of Vryheid and intercept a party of Boers known to be there. Nos. 2 and 4 Companies are under orders to proceed with convoy and supplies at 5 a.m. tomorrow for Dartnell. A very busy evening. Turned in at 11.

April 19.—Newcastle. We are back once again to familiar country, and at the foot of the mighty Drakensberg, encamped one mile west of the town. The Middlesex Regiment are all at Utrecht, thirty miles east of Newcastle. Settled down to camp; usual duties. I went into the town and bought some very necessary clothing, etc.; returned to camp at 1 and had lunch, then paid the company £500.

April 25th - Whole battalion rearranged as follows: No. 1 Company: East Yorks, 120 men (Captain Brass, Lieutenant Moeller). No. 2 Company, Middlesex, Hilton; Lancashire Fusiliers, Gledhill; 1st and 2nd Manchesters, Cooke (Captain Brindley). No. 3 Company: Essex, Boone; Devons, Maxwell and Kayne; West Yorks, Fryer (Lieutenant Warnford). No. 4 Company: Gloucesters, Lieutenant Nye, Lieutenant Hamilton (Lieutenant Vassil).”

Kingsford continued his entry on the Mounted Infantry with this: -

“On February 1, 1902, a patrol of Mounted Infantry, under Lieut. Whiteman, fell into an ambush near Knight's Farm, and five days afterwards another patrol, under Lieut. Seeker, was surprised by a very superior force of the enemy. Both officers were acquitted of all blame, and Lieut. Whiteman and the men captured with him were commended for their plucky behaviour, and for enabling others to escape by sacrificing themselves.”

The Daily Record of 18 April 1902 reported that, “At Kaffirdorp on the Middlefontein line, on the 15th, the Middlesex Mounted Infantry lost one man killed and Captain G. Haslehurst and two men wounded.” The Haslehurst referred to is the chap who signed the medal roll at Klerksdorp on 1 August 1901. He signed in his capacity as O.C. 21st Battalion, Mounted Infantry and it can (safely) be assumed that Hunt fell under his command.

Further proof of this comes via a letter home, written by one of the “Green Howards” which was published in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner of 9 December 1901 – this read, in part: -

“Being fresh out to the country we were all eager to see a Boer, but our wishes were not fulfilled until we arrived at a place called Klerksdorp. Having arrived there our horses were soon tried and on the 5th May (1901) we started on our first trek under the care of Colonel Williams.

We were now joined by another company belonging to Middlesex, and we were then called 21st Battalion, Mounted Infantry under the command of Major Payne of the Wiltshires. We had several small skirmishes while on our treks, mostly with De la Rey and De Wet.”


Map of Rooiwal

Hunt, as a member of the 21st M.I. would have been one of the 2000 or so Mounted Infantry who fought in the very singular action at Rooiwal on 11 April 1902. Du Moulin in his Two Years on Trek, in Appendix B: The 21st MI, had the following to say about their role in the battle which was hailed as a British victory: -

“On April 9th the mounted troops of the combined columns started from Middelbult to join General Ian Hamilton's big drive and enveloping movement against General Delarey's commandos. After two days' march they arrived at Rooival, passing the scene of Col. Cookson's engagement, which had occurred five days previously, when Delarey surrounded the column, killing all Cookson's horses. Col. von Donop's troops finally took up their position in the driving line on the extreme right, and entrenched for the night. On the following morning, two hours before daybreak, word was brought by the scouts that the combined commandos of Delarey, Kemp, Liebenberg, and Potgieter, 2,000 strong, with four field guns and two pom-poms (those captured from Col. von Donop's convoy six weeks previously) were halted 6 miles away on the right. Col. von Donop's column, being on the extreme right, was the first to move, the 21st M. I. being ordered to furnish the screen and supports of the advanced guard. At about 6 a.m. the screen came over a rise, and was at once face to face with Delarey's commandos, who were partially concealed in large mealie patches less than 4,000 yards away. Although apparently surprised, the enemy quickly formed into two or three long lines, and riding almost knee to knee, charged through the screen, shouting, and firing from the saddle.

The 21st M. I. dismounted, and those horses which were not shot were galloped to the rear, the men lying in the grass and firing at the Boers as they galloped through. Many of the latter and of their horses were shot as they passed von Donop's main body, which by this time had had sufficient warning, and received the charge with a very heavy fire. At the same time Gen. Rawlinson, whose column had come up, met and repulsed an attempted turning movement. The Boers were now effectively stopped, their casualties being very large. Col. von Donop's Scottish Horse were then ordered to charge the enemy, who made a big wheel to the left towards some hills covered with scrub and small trees. The British guns then opening fire caused the whole force of Boers to break and scatter in all directions, though their guns still replied in a desultory way. The British pursued throughout the day, the Boers with their guns and wagons scattering in parties all over the country. By 4 p.m. all their guns and many prisoners had been captured. The 21st M. I. suffered more casualties than any other corps in this engagement, losing two officers and a colour-sergeant killed, and five out of nine officers dangerously or severely wounded, including Major Roy, of the Sherwood Foresters, then in command.

The Boer casualties were given as forty-five killed and many wounded, Potgieter being killed and Kemp badly wounded. The next day Col. von Donop received the following message from General Ian Hamilton:--"My best congratulations to you and your gallant troops. I shall have great pleasure in telling Lord Kitchener of their steadiness when attacked and their dashing pursuit."

Emerging unscathed from the war, which ended on 31 May 1902, Hunt was posted back, firstly to the 2nd Middlesex Regiment on 1 September 1902, and then to the 1st on 22 October of that year. A week later, on 28 October, he sailed with his battalion to India where he was to spend the next 5 years and 32 days, returning home to England on 23 November 1907. Whilst in India he had extended his service with the Colours to complete 8 years, on 1 April 1904. He was discharged from the army and placed on the Reserve in 1908 and, on 2 January 1912, having completed 12 years of service, his military obligations had come to an end.

Back in civvy street, Hunt returned to the only trade he knew – that of Chair Polisher – the 1911 census has him living with his widowed mother back at 13 Duke Street, High Wycombe. Aged 35 and single, he was at home with his two youngest siblings Ivy (16) and Nellie (11).

But his return to civilian pursuits was to be short-lived. The world found itself at war on 4 August 1914 with Britain pitted against Kaiser Wilhelm’s Imperial Germany.

Losing no time, Hunt enlisted with the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, retaining his no. L-6057 for service in France and Flanders. He was one of the early entrants to that theatre. Mobilised on 5 August 1914, he was sent across the Channel on 13 August. He was Wounded in Action – a Gunshot Wound to the right shoulder – on 25 November 1914 and was sent back to the United Kingdom for treatment, being admitted to the Scottish Hospital, Aberdeen on 29 November 1914. The War Diary for the 4th Middlesex from 23 November onwards contained the following: -

- 23 November 1918 – nothing happened during the day. 1 killed. 1 wounded by rifle fire.
- 24 November 1918 – D relieved A in early morning. A had one man wounded in the evening (Hunt). Battalion relieved by Suffolk Regiment and billeted at Neuve Eglese.

After a period of recuperation in England he returned to the Western Front on 10 March 1915 and was again in the thick of it. On 31 March 1918 he received another Gunshot Wound, this time while with the 2nd Battalion, Middlesex – on this occasion to his left arm and was, on 2 April 1918, sent back to England aboard the “S.S. St. Patrick”. The War Diary for the period recorded that: -

“31st. Heavily barraged all morning with Artillery and MG fire. Borrowed to LG’s from Devons and opened fire with 4 LG’s on Boche concentrating on opposite slope for 4 hours causing approximately 1000 casualties. Left flank forced back about 12 noon. Right flank gave when GERMANS about 100 x distant so gave the order to retire.

Formed up outside wood and opened rapid (fire) on Boche while some guns were got away. Retired to road down slope with 22 men remaining of 72. Marched back to COTTENCHY to refit.”

Hunt didn’t return to the front. He was discharged on 13 June 1918, his Proceedings on Discharge form stating that his discharge was “in consequence of being no longer physically fit for war service.” His military character was rated as Good with the comments, “ Conduct satisfactory; honest, sober and intelligent.”

For his effort Hunt was awarded “Pip, Squeak and Wilfred” – the Mons Star (1914) is highly coveted and it would seem that he failed to apply (as was required) for the rosette and clasp to go with the medal.

Back in mufti, Hunt returned to his trade as a Chair Polisher. The 1921 census revealing that he was still living with his widowed, 68 year old mother, at 13 Duke Street, High Wycombe. The Hunt boys didn’t seem like the marrying type as, along with the now 45 year old Harry (as he called himself), were John (43) and William (39) – all of them single. Henry was employed by a Mr Parker of Frogmore, High Wycombe.

The 1939 register showed him living with the Mulford family at 34 Oakridge Road, Chipping Wycombe. He was still a Chair Polisher at the age of 63. He passed away in Wycombe, Buckinghamshire in 1962 at the age of 86. A life well lived.

Acknowledgements:
- Ancestry for census data/medal rolls/death notice/service papers etc.
- FMP for 1921 census
- British Newspaper Archive for various reports i.e. The Daily Record of 18 April 1902/Huddersfield Daily Examiner of 9 December 1901
- Du Moulin for 21st M.I. at Rooiwal in Two Years Trek
- Moeller diary for entries pertaining to M.I.
- The Story of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) by Charles Lethbridge Kingsford
- TNA for Regimental War Diaries