Edward Robert Hunt, Private 18560 Norfolk Regt. KIA Somme 1916.

[midshipmanrayley]

Edward Robert Hunt was born in Great Yarmouth in 1885. Joined the Norfolk Regiment and served as a private in the 9th Battalion in France,number 18560. KIA at the Somme 15th September 1916.

I haven't found his service history yet but wondered where I could trace the casualty figures suffered by the Norfolk Regiment at the Somme in 1916.

Any guidance gratefully received.

[BillyH]

It must have been an appalling day for the Battalion. They lost 156 men on that day, 151 listed as killed in action.

The war diary will tell you what happened and it can be purcased here for £3.30 :

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C14053218

Otherwise you could post a request for an excerpt in the war diaries section on the forum.

BillyH.

[sotonmate]

15 Sep 1916 was the first day of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette,9 Norfolks were part of 6 Division on that day,and this was also seemingly the first day in a named battle for that Division. Another first for the day is the use of the tank in battle.

[midshipmanrayley]

Edward Robert Hunt had a younger brother, Bertie Victor Hunt also born in Great Yarmouth in 1897.

I suspect he might also have been a casualty in the Great War. There is a B.V.Hunt tentertively mentioned on Great Yarmouth's Roll of Honour.

Can any member confirm if he was a casualty or not?

[woollamc]

Yes. His records are filed under Pensions on ancestry. He died of tuberculosis on 7 September 1919 at Maltings Farm Sanitorium, Hayland, Suffolk after being discharged from the Royal Army Medical Corps with a Silver War Badge on 18 August 1919.

His regimental number was 86723 and he had been with the RAMC in France between 29 July 1917 and 13 June 1919, posted to 2 General Hospital at (Le) Havre.

Census records confirm that he was Edward Robert's brother, both sons of Eleanor Eliza and the late Robert Edward Hunt of Great Yarmouth (although Eleanor is named as Helena in Bertie Hunt's records, as next of kin).

I can't see any reference to him on CWGC website or in SDGW, presumably because he had been discharged before his death. That said, his records clearly show that his illness was either attributed to or aggravated by his service in the War.

Can I ask what do you mean when you say that he is "tentatively" mentioned in Great Yarmouth's Roll of Honour?

C

[midshipmanrayley]

Many thanks Woollamc. The online Roll of Honour for Great Yarmouth has fullsome details regarding Edward Robert Hunt but lists his brother only by initials B V and the comment "No further information currently available".

That is now no longer the case.