Cpl 6239 Alfred Hunt

• Age: 32
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 20 LONDON REGT
• Died on Friday 15th September 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F P & F 9D,9C, 13C and 12C

Alfred Hunt was born in Liverpool in 1884 the son of Henry William (Harry) and his wife Elizabeth (née Williams) who married at St Clement's Church, Toxteth in August 1874. Henry was a 22 year old painter of 32 Embledon Street, father James a brass finisher, whilst Elizabeth was aged 22, same address, father Richard a joiner. Alfred was the youngest of seven children; he had sisters Mary Emma, Elizabeth, and Edith Margaret, and brothers Henry Milburn, James, and Charles.

In 1891 the census records the 7 year old Alfred as having six siblings : Mary aged 15, Elizabeth 14, Edith 11, Henry 9, Charles aged 4 and James aged 1. Their mother Elizabeth was born in Liverpool and was 38 and their father Henry was 39 and a house painter born in Ireland. The family’s address was 15 Winchester Road, Liverpool.

Alfred’s brother Henry died at the age of 15 in 1896.

By the time of the 1901 Census the family lived at 4 Venus Street, Henry is still working as a house decorator as is Alfred aged 17 and Charles aged 15. Elizabeth is 23 and is working as a domestic cook. James is 11. Edith is away working as one of three servants at the home of a borax manufacturer in Bankfield Road, West Derby. It is not known where James’s other sibling Mary is at this time.

Alfred’s father Henry died in 1902 at the age of 51.

Edith married in October 1902. Mary Emma in 1903, and Alfred and Charles in 1906.  

Alfred married Esther Ann Moses in the winter of 1906 at St. John The Evangelist Church, Walton. The couple had five children – two daughters born in 1907 and 1908, and three sons in 1910, 1913 and 1914.

On the 1911 census the family are living at 48 Dyke Street, Everton. Father, Alfred, is aged 27, a house painter, mother, Esther Ann, is aged 28. They advised that they had been married for 4 years, and have had 4 children, 3 of whom have survived. They have three children in the household: Elizabeth aged 3, Esther aged 2, and William Henry aged 6 months.  

Alfred enlisted in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 29122, alongside his brother James enlisting alongside him as Private 29123. James was posted to the 19th Battalion.  

At some point Alfred transferred to the 20th County of London Battalion (Blackheath and Woolwich) as Private 6239.

James was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 27, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

Alfred was killed in action just weeks later on the 15th September 1916, aged 32, on the opening day of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, during the Somme Offensive.

Alfred's death was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 21 July 1917:

FALLEN HEROES.

Private James Hunt, K.L.R., who has been missing since July 30th, 1916 is now officially reported killed. He was the younger brother of Private Alf Hunt, who was killed in action on September 15th, 1916 and resided with his widowed mother Mrs Hunt, 19 Harewood Street, Everton.

Alfred earned his two medals. 

There is no known grave for either brother. They are united in being commemorated 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.”

Arthur and James are commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall. Arthur at Panel 55 Left and James at Panel 56.

Their brother Charles died in the County Asylum in Whittingham, a psychiatric hospital near Preston, and was buried in Walton Park Cemetery in Liverpool on 11th November 1916. Charles was the father of two daughters and was 29.

In less than four months, Elizabeth lost her three sons.

Two notices were published in the Liverpool Echo on 14th July 1917:

Missing now Killed – Private James Hunt K.L.R. who has been missing since 30th July 1916 is now officially reported killed on that date. He was the younger brother of Private Alfred Hunt, killed in action on September 15th 1916, and resided with his mother Mrs Hunt at 19 Harewood Street, Liverpool.

Hunt – July 30th 1916, reported missing, now presumed killed on that date, aged 27 years Private James Hunt, K.L.R. (19th Pals), the dearly loved youngest son of the late Henry Hunt and of Elizabeth Hunt, 19 Harewood Street, Everton. Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his mother and sisters.

The Commonwealth War Grave site gives the following information about Alfred: Son of Henry and Elizabeth Hunt, of 19, Harewood St., Everton, Liverpool; husband of Esther Hunt, of 68, Cavan Rd., Clubmoor, Liverpool.

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £2 4s 8d, War Gratuity of £5 and Pension of 31/3 pw to widow Esther and children Elizabeth, Esther, William Henry, Alfred and James(crossed out), address 43 Thirlmere Road, Everton.

On the 1921 Census at Thirlmere Road, Esther and children are living with her married sister Ethel Ashcroft and family.

In 1923 she remarried to Alexander Hall and by the 1939 Register at 68 Cavan Road was once again widowed.

In 1939 his mother was still living at 19 Harewood Street. She died in January 1941, aged 88.

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