George Henry Hunter

War Service

George Henry Hunter was my uncle.
He enlisted in the army March 1915 in the K.O.Y.L.I. After joining he was joining he was transferred to the 2nd/4th Battalion, London Regiment of the Royal Fusiliers where he made Corporal.
The last time he saw his wife and children was Christmas 1917 when he was home on leave. Two days before he got killed by a shell on the 25th August 1918 he had written home to his wife sending his pay and a German watch.
A comrade of George, Sergeant J. Fawous wrote to George’s wife saying he was one of his best pals, who feared nothing and was always cheering his men up, singing and joking wherever he was and every man in the platoon misses him.
He was awarded three medals, the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He is remembered with honour at Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-Sur-Somme. George is also on the church Roll Of Honour in Brotherton and on the Brotherton War Memorial.
His cousin Dennis Hunter was also killed in WW1 and is remembered on that memorial.

Family Life

George Henry Hunter was born on the 16th of February 1890 to parents Joseph and Ann Elizabeth Hunter (Nee Crossley). They lived at Brotherton. His father was a coalminer probably at Fryston Colliery. He had five sons and three daughters, one of which was Ruth, my mother.
George got married to Ethel Holroyd on the 8th July 1911 and they had three sons William 1911, Albert 1913 and George 1914. They lived at Austerbury Yard, High St., Brotherton. He worked at Fryston Colliery before he enlisted into the army. He was a musician, a member of the Brotherton Prize Band playing the cornet. He entered several competitions playing the cornet of which he had to 1st places, one at Stanley Ferry near Wakefield on the 12th November 1914.
His wife Ethel must have found life very hard bringing up three young boys on her own after George’s death.

Bronfray Farm Military Cemetery