Cpl 22731 Norman William Hunt

• Age: 31
• From: Nelson, New Zealand
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 3rd July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Norman William Hunt was born on 17th May 1885 in Nelson, New Zealand, to William Burdett Hunt and his wife Jenny (nee Herwin), who married in 1878.  His birth was registered under the name Harold Norman. They had at least six children;  Norman had older siblings Ethel, Hilda, and William B. (who perhaps died young), and younger siblings Olive and William G.  The family moved to Brisbane, Queensland, when Norman was young.

Norman was a marine engineer, and at some point crewed on the S.S. “Vine Branch”, a British steamer (that was later torpedoed and sunk by a U-boat in 1917).  In Liverpool he met Amy Elizabeth Critchley and they married on 26^th August 1912 in West Derby Register Office.

Their son Norman William was born on 03^rd May 1914, and was baptised in St. Matthew's Church, Bootle, on 27^th May.  Norman and Amy were living at 44 Garden Lane (his wife’s family’s address), and Norman gives his occupation as engineer. 

Norman enlisted in Liverpool on 09^th November 1914 as Private 22731, 20^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 29 years and 8 months, and his occupation as engineer. He is described as being 5’ 6 and a half inches tall, weighing 166 lbs, with grey eyes and light brown hair. He has a tattoo of ‘Australia coat of arms’ on his right arm. He stated his religion as C.of E. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

His son Norman died at nine months old on 10^th February 1915, at home, from perpura and convulsions.  Norman would have been training at Knowsley Park, not far from home, so he would have been able to attend his son’s funeral.

Norman shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07^th November 1915.

Norman was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 09th February 1915 (the day before his son died), and, the day after landing at Boulogne with his battalion, on 08th November 1915, he was promoted to Corporal. On 28^th March 1916 he was attached to 201^st Fd Coy, Royal Engineers, and rejoined his battalion on 11^th April.

Another son, Harold Burdett, was born on 07^th May 1916, and baptised in St. Matthew’s Church, Bootle on 31^st May 1916, father’s occupation given as soldier, address 44 Garden Lane.  Norman was granted leave to the UK from 21^st to 30^th May 1916, which meant he would have seen his newborn son Harold.

Norman returned to his unit which was at Abbeville on the Somme front for specialist training for the ‘Big Push’ and at the end of June the battalion is in the front line near Maricourt. On the 1^st of July, the 20^th battalion goes over the top and takes its objectives with casualties of 100 of all ranks. Norman survived that bloody first day. 

On the 2^nd and 3^rd July patrols were sent into Bernafay Wood and the British lines were shelled heavily and suffered a number of casualties. Private Norman Hunt was killed in action on 03rd July 1916. He was 31 years old.

His body was never recovered, or was subsequently lost, as he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.  

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His son Harold was just two months old when his father died.  Norman’s widow Amy was notified of his death on 24^th July 1916, and signed for his personal effects on 11th November 1916:  1 disc, 1 watch, tin box, jack knife, note book, 1 letter, 1 field card, 3 photos.  His widow was granted a pension of 15/6d a week for herself and child.

In 1919 Amy provided information about Norman’s known living relatives:  Norman’s father William Burdett Hunt, contact address La Plata Cold Storage Co., Ensentada, Argentina. (His father had moved to Argentina in about 1909, worked in meat refrigeration, and owned a patent for a tent/cover for loading ships in bad weather.)  There is no mother listed (either she had died, or some reports claim the marriage had broken down and her whereabouts were unknown).  Sister Mrs. Hilda Ferguson, Stirling, Kitchener Road, Ascot, Brisbane, Australia. 

Norman’s death was announced in “The Colonist”, Nelson, New Zealand, on 17^th January 1917, Roll of Honour: 

 “Norman Hunt, son of William Burdettt Hunt, late of Wakefield, killed in action in France, July 1916.”

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Amy Elizabeth.

Norman earned his three medals, which his widow Amy signed for in June 1920 and November 1921.

His father died in Argentina in 1929, aged 72.  In 1939 Amy and son Harold, now married with a daughter, were still at 44 Garden Lane. Harold became a chef.  Amy never remarried and died in 1973.

Norman is commemorated on

Bootle Civic Memorial

Auckland War Memorial online.

We currently have no further information on Norman William Hunt. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.