Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Hunter, a general labourer, born in the April quarter of 1866 in Caldecote, Warwickshire and baptised on the 1st April 1866 in the Church of St. Theobold and St. Chad, Caldecote (son of John Hunter, 1835-1914 and Mary Ann Wilson, 1836) and his wife Mary Ann Hunter (nee Belcher, married on the 24th December 1889 in St. Margaret’s Church, Stoke Golding, Leicestershire), born in the October quarter of 1864 in Stoke Golding (daughter of George Belcher, 1823-1913 and Mary Kirkland, 1829-1900). Arthur John was born in the October quarter of 1894 in Stoke Golding, and was baptised on the 11th November 1894 in St. Margaret’s Church, Stoke Golding, his siblings were, George, born on the 21st September 1890 in Stoke Golding, Florence Mary, born on the 26th September 1896 in Burbage, Leicestershire, and twins, Frank and Ernest, born on the 10th November 1898, the twins were both born in Stoke Golding, in March 1901 the family home was at Shilton’s Yard, Dadlington End, Stoke Golding.
In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at Beeches Yard, Stoke Golding, together with his father, a gardener, his mother and siblings, Florence, a hosiery trade mender, Amy Eliza, a schoolgirl, born on the 10th March 1902 and baptised on the 13th April 1902 in St. Margaret’s Church, Stoke Golding and Albert Henry, a schoolboy, born on the 13th February 1904 and baptised on the 10th April 1904 in St. Margaret’s Church, Stole Golding, the latter two siblings were both born in Stoke Golding.
Arthur enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 2nd September 1914 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and was allotted the regimental service number 16781. He gave his place of birth as Nuneaton and age as 19 years 334 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Nuneaton on the 2nd September 1914 and recorded his birthplace as Stoke Golding, Leicestershire, declared age as 19 years 334 days, trade or occupation as shoe hand, that he was 5-feet 7½ inches in height, weighed 117 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches, his physical development was described as good, his vision was described as R.E.-V=Good. L.E.-V=Good.
Enlisted at Nuneaton on the 2nd September 1914. Joined on enlistment 9th Reserve Cavalry Regt. Regimental No. 16781. Transferred to East Surrey Regt. Regimental No. 3/10110.
He gave his religion as Baptist.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Nuneaton. 2/9/14.
Posted. To Southern Cavalry Depot, Bristol. 2/9/14.
Posted. To 9th Reserve Cavalry Regt. Pte. 2/9/14.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 16781.
Transferred. To 1st Bn. East Surrey Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 10110.
Offence. 30/11/14 At Shorncliffe. Absent off pass from Midnight 30/11/14 until Reveille 2/12/14. Awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks. 2/12/14.
Posted. To Dover. 2/6/15.
Offence. 11/6/15 At Dover. Unshaven on parade. Awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks. 12/6/15.
Embarked. To join the British Expeditionary Force, France. 3/8/15.
Posted. To 2nd Bn. East Surrey Regt. Pte. 21/10/15.
Embarked. From Marseilles. 23/10/15.
Disembarked. At Alexandria. 30/10/15.
Admitted. To 86th Field Ambulance, abscess. In the Field. 1/5/16.
Discharged to duty. In the Field. 12/5/16.
Admitted. To 86th Field Ambulance, malaria. In the Field.
Died in 8th Field Ambulance. In the Field. 18/7/16.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
On Friday September 1st, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – HINCKLEY DISTRICT MEN. – Mr. and Mrs. H. Hunter, of Stoke Golding, have been officially notified that their second son. Private Arthur J. Hunter, aged 22 years, has died of malaria while of foreign service. Deceased enlisted on the outbreak of war in the Hussars, but was afterwards transferred to the East Surreys. Captain K. Marshall, writing to the bereaved parents, stated deceased had recently become one of the battalion scouts. Hunter was 22 years of age, and formerly worked at the boot factory at Hinckley of Messrs. G. H. Callington and Co.
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