Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ascanius’ A11 for Egypt 29.6.1915 .
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 7th Bde. 28th Infantry Bn. ‘B’ Coy. AIF.
Hunt disembarked at Suez. He trained with his Bn. at Zieitoun. Hunt entrained for Alexandria, joined the MEF and embarked for Gallipoli. He became ill and was evacuated to Alexandria with a varicocele and admitted to the 1st Australian Hospital at Luna Park, Heliopolis. He rejoined his Bn. at Gallipoli 28.9.1915. Hunt was admitted to the Casualty Clearing Station with Influenza 27.5.1915, dysentery and jaundice, 20.10.1915–29.11.1915. He was evacuated, sick, per HS ‘Gloucester Castle’ to St Ignatius Hospital, Malta. Hunt returned to his unit who had been evacuated from Gallipoli. He was entrained to Alexandria, joined the BEF and embarked for France 16.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 21.3.1916. He became sick and was admitted to Hospital with Influenza 26.5.1916. Hunt returned to his Unit 30.5.1916. The 28th Bn. took part in its first major action at Pozieres in July 1916 Hunt was reported missing in the field 29.7.1916. During this action the 28th Bn lost 10 Officers and 360 ranks.(Wikipedia). The Court of Enquiry determined, that based on evidence, Hunt was KIA 29.7.1916, and buried on the field. It was later reported that he was buried by 51st Highland Division on 8.12.1916 and his’ body (was) lying on battlefield for some months’ before burial. (Ref. Map Grave R 35 d) The Australian Military HQ advised his family 17.1.1917.
He is commemorated Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie. France.
Final Rank Private, 28th Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Dec’d, KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos  Pte. E.R. Hunt. Photograph source Sunday Times 16.1.1916 p1
              HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
              Palace Hotel used as the 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, Cairo 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM
              P10997.020
              Casualties at 1st Auxiliary Hospital Heliopolis,  in the Luna Park skating and amusement centre. Photographer unknown, photograph
              source AWM P01350.013
              Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E05391
              Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H17454

Information Source
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the  Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P10997.020. Palace Hotel used as the 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, Cairo 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P01350.013. Casualties at 1st Auxiliary Hospital Heliopolis,  in the Luna Park skating and amusement centre. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E05391. Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H17454. Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from he PIctorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls- Ernest Robert Hunt
AWM Roll of Honour- Ernest Robert Hunt
AWM Red Cross File- Ernest Robert Hunt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28th_Battalion_%28Australia%29
NAA: B2455, Hunt E R 305
Sunday Times

22 Margaret St. Midland. WA.

Associated Images