Hunt

Driver William Millwood Hunt; L/33268 Royal Field Artillery

Many of his Army service records have servived and are available to view on Ancestry. When he enlisted aged 19, he was living at 14 Beech Lane, Smethwick and his occupation was a metal turner. The following is from Rev. Clive Hughes: Medal Index Card confirms served overseas 1916 or later.  National Archives Soldiers’ Service Papers (WO 363) shows that he was a metal turner aged 19 years and resident at 14 Beech Lane, Smethwick when he enlisted at Smethwick on 28 June 1915 as Driver L/33268 in “B” Battery 175th (Staffordshire) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.  Next of kin father, William Arthur Hunt of Horsemans Green, Whitchurch.  Landed France 11 January 1916 and subesquently moved to “A” Battery on 28 August 1916; then 175th Brigade headquarters 17 February 1917.  He returned to the UK 15 November 1917 – 27 March 1918.  He was wounded (gas) on 6 September 1918.   On 8 March 1919 he returned to “A” Battery until leaving France on 15 July 1919 for demobilisation 16 July 1919.On 2 August 1917 the Record Office noted that his mother Mrs E.M.Hunt had changed address to 7 Grosvenor Street, Chester; and then again on 25 August 1917 to 8 Westwood Road, Wolstanton, Stoke-on-Trent.  On demobilisation to Army Reserve Class “Z” on 14 August 1919 his address was given as 14 Beeches Lane, Bearwood, Birmingham.  His reserve service technically concluded 31 March 1920 when the “Z” Reserve was abolished.  [The 175th (Staffs.) Brigade RFA was raised in 1915 and attached to the 34th Division that August.  It arrived in France in January 1916 and served in the Battle of the Somme July-September 1916.  On 26 January 1917 the 175th became an Army Field Artillery Brigade and left the Division]   

William was born 15th July 1898 in the King’s Norton district, Birmingham, parents William Arthur & Edith M. Hunt.

  • 1901 with his grandfather James Hunt, parents & sisters at Horseman’s Green
  • 1911 with parent’s & siblings at Horseman’s Green

He attended Hanmer school until May 17th 1912.

I cannot confirm any of his life after the war, but a William Millwood Hunt also served during WW2 for the Australian military, so it is possible he emigrated.