Stephen Nulty Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 I was strolling through Prescot St Mary’s Churchyard on Saturday when I spotted an inscription on the stone shown below. The inscription reads, “ Barbara Appleton Hunt, the beloved child of Joseph James & Alice Hunt, who died April 16 1919, aged 7 years 2 months. Safe in the arms of Jesus”. But the lower part of the stone has the inscription “Also The Above, Joseph James Hunt, who passed away in Haiphong Naval Hospital, China, May 2nd, 1917, aged 27 years”. I don't think he would actually be buried in this grave. At that time, Haiphong would have been in French Indo-China. I am assuming that he was either Royal Navy or Merchant Navy, but that’s about as far as I can get. I have been unable to identify this Joseph James Hunt in any online records (After his marriage in 1910) so thought it might be worth throwing it open to the floor for ideas/suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 I don't believe that there was a naval hospital in Haiphong however I think there may have been something at Haiphong Road in Hong Kong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 And the US Marines had something at Haiphong Road Shanghai (which later became a Japanese internment camp in WW2) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_hughes Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 He might also be a civilian, or in the Mercantile Marine, in which case CWGC wouldn't cover him: but the GRO Indexes of deaths of British citizens overseas might, if anyone has access to them. Clive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 11 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 11 September , 2012 Thanks guys. I had thought about the civilian aspect, Clive, and assumed that might explain an absence from CWGC. I'm continuing to dig and will keep this thread updated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 He's gone away some time between his marriage in 1910, and the 1911 census. On the 1911 census, Alice Hunt is living with her parents, James and Emily Appleton, at 4 Eccleston Street Prescot. Am I right in thinking he's the man born in Denbighshire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 Stephen Looking at passengers lists, there are many combinations of names and initials that could be relevant, but there is one man, given as J. J. Hunt, born 1891, who left London in 1914 on the 'Nubia'. He is given as 'Master Mariner.' The ship's destination was Yokohama, Japan, but his destination was China. Just another thought. Sue P.S. He was a passenger, not a member of the crew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 Not listed in British Nationals died oversea, 1915 - 1918 There is only 1 J Hunt listed and he was lost at sea on Almwick Castle - Torpedoed of Rame Head, Plymouth, March 1917. Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 11 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 11 September , 2012 All good useful information, helping to put a picture together. Many thanks to all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 Stephen Looking at passengers lists, there are many combinations of names and initials that could be relevant, but there is one man, given as J. J. Hunt, born 1891, who left London in 1914 on the 'Nubia'. He is given as 'Master Mariner.' The ship's destination was Yokohama, Japan, but his destination was China. Just another thought. Sue P.S. He was a passenger, not a member of the crew Master Mariner usually meant a man qualified to command a ship (had his masters ticket) - it would suggest that he was on his way to take over command of a ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 Yes, and if he was a Master Mariner at 23, he must have already spent a lot of time at sea which may account for him not being in the UK for the 1911 census (if this was the man, of course). Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_hughes Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 The excellent Welsh Mariners website http://www.welshmariners.org.uk (mercantile officers of Welsh birth) gives a possible candidate in the following: HUNT, Joseph James. Born Wrexham, Denbighshire 1887. Certificate of Competence no. 006408. Second Mate 1911. NA Kew ref. 123/2 Clive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf mcm Posted 12 September , 2012 Share Posted 12 September , 2012 Ancestry have just added a set of British Masters and Mates Caertificates. There is only 1 Joseph James Hunt, with the certificate mentioned above. The certificate adds he was qualified as a "2nd Mate of a Foreign going steamship", and is dated 1st June 1911. It was issued at Liverpool. Regards, Alf McM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 12 September , 2012 Share Posted 12 September , 2012 All of which suggests that he was an officer on a merchantman who was taken sick (or injured in an accident) in the far east and taken to an available hospital where he died. There appears to have been a substantial hospital in Haiphong (French Indo China) since at least the 1880s (it being mentioned in American newspaper reports of a major cholera outbreak) but this was not a naval hospital. There is some evidence that there were medical facilities with naval connections at both Haiphong Road Shanghai and Haiphong Road Kowloon. It would seem likely that the inscription on the stone is a little in error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 16 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 16 September , 2012 Again, thanks everybody, you've all been really helpful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf mcm Posted 18 September , 2012 Share Posted 18 September , 2012 If you look at Joseph's 2nd Mate Certificate on Ancestry, and move to the pages before and afterwards you will see another 4 documents relating to him. These give details of his exam as well as details of his height, hair colour etc., aamongst other things. Regards, Alf McM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 18 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 18 September , 2012 Good spot, Alf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivor evans Posted 23 November , 2016 Share Posted 23 November , 2016 (edited) Hi guys. now i realise this is an old thread. But i only just came across it. Alice, or Tal as she was known was married to Joe Hunt. Now my memory of stuff is quite good. it is my belief that Joe was Merchant Marine and Died in Haipong Naval Hospital and is Buried in Hanoi. The info here is very useful as i am finally getting around to some family history. as a child i clearly remember a portrait photo of Barbara hanging on the wall. as far as i am aware Joe was born Liverpool 1888 thanks for the info guys Edited 23 November , 2016 by ivor evans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 23 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2016 Hello Ivor, and welcome to the the forum As you'll have noticed, I started this thread out of curiosity when I spotted the headstone inscription, so I hope it's provided some useful information. BTW, I was also born in Whiston Hospital and am a native of Kingsway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivor evans Posted 23 November , 2016 Share Posted 23 November , 2016 (edited) hi. thanks Steven it has been of use. i appreciate the photo of the grave marker. this is not far away from the grave of my Father who died 1948 age 29. i recall visiting and putting Flowers on these graves regularly with Aunt Tal. Brings back a lot of childhood memories. Thank you. Ivor Edited 23 November , 2016 by ivor evans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 23 November , 2016 Share Posted 23 November , 2016 26 minutes ago, ivor evans said: hi. thanks Steven it has been of use. i appreciate the photo of the grave marker. this is not far away from the grave of my Father Robert Thomas Evans who died 1948 age 29. i recall visiting and putting Flowers on these graves regularly with Aunt Tal. Brings back a lot of childhood memories. Thank you. Ivor Ivor might want to remove his personal details. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivor evans Posted 23 November , 2016 Share Posted 23 November , 2016 thanks Terry. i added them in the beginning to prove my connection with the subject. ivor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now