Private Matthew Hunter

 

Matthew Hunter was born on 30 May 1896 at Toolet, Burt, County Donegal, the fourth of nine children of agricultural labourer Edward Hunter and his wife Mary Anne (née Hay or Hayes). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Moyle, Newtowncunningham, with his parents and five of his six surviving siblings.

Hunter enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 24 March and 9 April 1915 (No. UD242 – later Corps of Hussars No.21271).

The squadron, which had been formed as divisional cavalry for the 36th (Ulster) Division, embarked for France on 6 October 1915. A party of at least thirty men of the squadron, including Hunter, had embarked three days earlier, attached to 36th Division Headquarters – many if not all of them serving as batmen to senior officers.

Nothing further has been discovered about his service for the remainder of the war. On 25 January 1920, however, he was discharged in order that he re-enlist the following day, in the Royal Army Service Corps, Motor Transport Section (No.EMT/61213 – later No. M/23129).

Following his discharge from the army, Hunter lived in Wales and England. In late 1925 he married Phyllis May Davies at Bedwelty, Monmouthshire. At the time of the 1939 Register they were living with their two daughters at 448 London Road, Chepping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Matthew working in a cotton factory. He died in Wycome in 1968.

 

This page last updated 30 August 2023.