5381 DVR. R. S. HUNT. AUS.ENG.

Richard Snalam Hunt was born in October 1889 in Much Hoole.  His parents were Richard Hunt (b. 1862 in Much Hoole) and Jane Snalam (b. 1859 in Lea).  His father, Richard, was a farmer and the family lived for a long time at Moss Lane, Much Hoole.  Richard and Jane were married in 1885 and had 8 children of whom 7 survived infancy: Annie (b. 1886), Mary (b. 1888), then Richard, William (b. 1891, died same year), Alice (b. 1893), Nellie (b. 1894), Henry (b. 1896) and John (b. 1899).  In 1911, the family was living at Provident House, Longton, where Richard Snr. was a general labourer, Richard Jnr. was a hay cutter and all his siblings were weavers.

In September 1913, Richard emigrated to Australia, taking advantage of the pre-War assisted passage scheme, sailing aboard the S. S. Commonwealth bound for Sydney.  Two years later, on 23 November 1915 Richard signed up to the Australian Army in Sydney and was given the service number 5381 and initially assigned to 2nd Reinforcements, 7th Field Coy Engineers.  He gives his occupation as carter and his address is Sellwood Street, Brighton-Le-Sands (a suburb of Sydney on Botany Bay).  He was 5’ 8¼” tall, weighed 154lbs and had a 37” chest.  On enlistment he gives his father’s address as 3 Caton Terrace, Lostock Hall.  He embarked at Sydney aboard the H.M.A.T. A 35 Berrima on 17 December 1915 bound for Egypt. He was admitted to hospital in Cairo with mumps on 2 February 1916 and discharged to duty 3 weeks later.  On 18 March 1916 whilst in Tel-el-Kebir (between Cairo and Port Said) he was transferred as a Driver to 14th Field Coy in the 5th Australian Division. He embarked at Alexandria on 18 June 1916 aboard the Troopship Georgia and arrived at Marseilles on 29 June.