The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Pte J E Hunt


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Private John Ezra HUNT, 10164, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

Born Westminster, London, Middlesex, enlisted 25th June 1913, Kingston on Thames, age 18, height 5ft 5¾ inches, weight 117lbs, resided 59 Grant Road, Battersea, SW. Formerly factory labourer / electrician.

Son of Matthew & Elizabeth Hunt, 7 Escalon Street, Battersea, SW.

Husband of Mrs Dorothy Mary Hunt, (nee Owen, spinster), 59 Grant Road, Battersea, SW. Married 2nd December 1917, Battersea, SW.

Previously served in 3rd Battalion, Special Reserve, East Surrey Regiment, No.7199. Enlisted 25th March 1912, London  as Ezra John Hunt, age 17, height 5ft 4 7/8, weight 106lbs, born Battersea, London, Surrey, formerly printer.

Home, 25th June 1913 to 13th August 1914; BEF, 14th August 1914 to 13th October 1914; Home, 14th October 1914 to 16th February 1915; BEF, 17th February 1915 to 20th May 1915; Home, 21st May 1915 to 27th May 1918; BEF, 28th May 1918 to 25th August 1918; Home, 26th August 1918 to 19th December 1918.

25th June 1913, enlisted & posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 27th June 1913, joined Battalion at Dublin; 19th August 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st September 1914, missing; 13th October 1914, in England;

Statement of the circumstances under which Private J Hunt, No.10164., 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, became detached from his unit and returned to this country. Detached from his Regiment during retirement from Ligny, 26th August 1914. Made vain attempts to rejoin and then set out for the coast. Reached Boulogne and arrived Shorncliffe 25th September 1914. 

12th November 1914, forfeits 8 days pay; 4th January 1915,  awarded 28 days detention by Commanding Officer for absence; 2nd February 1915, awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2. by Commanding Officer for absence; 17th February 1915, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 31st March 1915, 84 Field Ambulance, influenza; 15th April 1915, 13 General Hospital, enteric fever; 20th May 1915, 14 General Hospital, transferred to England; 31st July 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 20th September 1915, deprived 10 days pay by Commanding Officer for absence; 5th October 1915, awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2. by Commanding Officer for absence; 10th October 1915, deserted and struck off strength;

25th October 1915, fraudulently enlisted into R.F.A. as Gunner J Miller, 115342, 5th Reserve Battery, for 1 year 306 days, 11th August 1917, District Court Martial dispensed with due to the short period of time between desertion and enlistment in RFA, on authority of General Officer Commanding Troops Woolwich, held to serve in Royal West Kent Regiment;

23rd December 1917, absent; 30th December 1917, rejoined, forfeits 7 days pay;

21st January 1918, Fort Horsted, Chatham, Commanding Officer 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment to Adjutant, 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment - this man is at present a patient at Cherry Hinton Military Hospital, Cambridgeshire. His birth certificate has been obtained and shows him registered under the name Ezra John David George. George being the maiden surname of his mother. His marriage certificate has been asked for and when received will be forwarded together with birth certificate for inspection. 5th March 1918, 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, request to man for Statutory Declaration.

28th May 1918, embarked & posted Infantry Base Depot & posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 16th June 1918, joined Battalion; 26th June 1918, 15 days Field Punishment No.2. & deprived 10 days pay; 17th July 1918, admitted 13 Field Ambulance, Not Yet Diagnosed abdominal; 20th July 1918, 32 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, Not Yet Diagnosed abdominal; 24th July 1918, arrived Etaples; 4th August 1918, 24 General Hospital, Not Yet Diagnosed abdominal; 25th August 1918, transferred to UK; 26th August 1918, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th October 1918, 2nd London General Hospital, men left Hospital at 2.30pm without leave & has not been seen since; 1st November 1918, 9.55pm, 2nd London General Hospital, man has returned;

16th December 1918, 2nd London General Hospital, Medical Report - Inflammation of middle ear, both ears, date & place of origin, 4th August 1918, Etaples. The patient states that a few days before being taken ill an enemy aeroplane dropped a bomb near him causing him to be deaf and his middle ear condition came on as a result of that. He was invalided home as otitis media after having had an operation of P????????? performed on right ear probably left as well. His memory is somewhat defective. Deafness now in both ears, subject to headaches & tinnitus. Disability 50%.

19th December 1918, discharged  as "no longer physically fit for War Service" due to sickness. Silver War Badge issued 

1st January 1919, letter from man stating he is entitled to 1914 Star and his length of Service on his Discharge Certificate is wrong. 1914 Star forfeited for desertion.

Pension, 13/9 a week for 52 weeks, pension expires 23rd December 1919. Medical Board, 13th October 1919, disability less than 20%, £55 gratuity.


This page was last updated on 12-Apr-2014.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason