Edwin John Hunt

Story:
Edwin John Hunt was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1886 the son of William Thomas Hunt, a Carpenter, and Margaret Jane Hunt (nee Hibbs).  He lived his early life in The Street, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire.   He married Mary Ellen Harvey at St Clement's Church, Branksome, Poole, Dorset on 6 Apr 1912.   He had enlisted with the Royal Defence Corps (having previously served with the Dorset Regiment Territorials)  but was almost immediately transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment albeit attached to the 262nd Protection Company (Service No. 8766).  He did not serve abroad but had suffered a serious illness during his time though this did not stop him joining the 3rd Battalion (New Service No. 29064) and later the Royal Engineers on 22 Aug 1917 (Service No. WR341653) as an Acting Sergeant in the Supply Company.  He was discharged eventually on 23 May 1919.  No medal records can be found but he would have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  He died at the age of 40 years whilst living at 34 Sea View Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, on 28 May 1926 and was buried at St. Clement's Church, Branksome, on 31 May 1926.  Of his brothers, Frederick Frank Hunt had enlisted in 1914 but been discharged early due to illness, William Thomas Hunt had served for a period but been discharged due to being wounded in action in 1917 and Reuben Henry (aka Harry) Hunt served and survived until he was 90 years of age.