Chester-le-Street Chronicle 18/07/1919

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

Ernest was born and baptised in Sacriston in 1891, the oldest son of local butcher John David Hunter and his wife Elizabeth Scott, who went on to have another three sons, Edward, John and George. By 1901 the family were living above the shop in Front Street and at some point Ernest moved to Whitley Bay where he worked as both a waiter and a butcher. On 11th March 1911 he was in Liverpool waiting for the SS Virginian ship number 84184, to set sail for Canada and a new life he had planned in Alberta.

Having found work again as a butcher and waiter on 20th August 1915 in Calgary he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, becoming Private 435560 of “C” Company, 50th (Alberta) Battalion, and gave as his next of kin his mother now living in Norton House, Chester-le-Street. The Battalion embarked for England on 27th October 1915, arriving in Plymouth ten days later to be based at Bramshott Camp in Hampshire.

Posted to France in August 1916 the battalion became part of the 4th Canadian Division and made their first camp near Reninghelst before moving into the front line trenches at the end of the month. By mid November 1916 the Battalion were in billets near Albert and on 14th took over the front line trenches from 47th Battalion near Courcelette. Orders were received that the men would go over the top on the morning of the 18th November; the assault was successful and resulted in prisoners being taken and objectives gained, but at a cost. One of those reported missing and later presumed to have died in that attack was Private 435560 Hunter.

The Chester-le-Street Chronicle 22/06/1917 reports:-

HUNTER – Previously reported missing Nov. 18th 1916, now officially presumed dead, Ernest Scott Hunter (Canadians) aged 25 years second and dearly beloved son of J.D. and E. Hunter Norton House Chester-le-Street (late of Sacriston)"No emblem to tell the sacrifice he made." Deeply mourned.

The Chester-le-Street Chronicle 29/06/1917 reports:-

A Chester Canadian

Mr J.D. and Mrs Hunter of Norton House, Chester-le-Street, have now been informed that their second son, Corporal Ernest Scott Hunter of the Canadian Contingent is presumed to have been killed. He was previously reported missing on November 18th 1916 when there was a considerable number of casualties amongst his comrades, but the Canadian Record Office has now given up all hope. He was 25 years of age and unmarried.

Six years ago the deceased went to Canada. He was for some time employed in the butchering department of a great store but he subsequently went on to the Canadian Pacific Railway as a waiter. He soon obtained the lucrative post of head waiter and he occupied it when he enlisted at Calgary two years ago.

He went to France last summer and there is now only one man alive out of the 11 companions who enlisted with him from the same train.

Mr and Mrs Hunter's youngest son, Lieut. John Hunter, who was attached to the Royal Engineers (Tunnelling Section) was some time ago very badly wounded in the arm. He was at Armstrong College before joining up studying to become a colliery engineer and had served part of his time at Edmondsley Colliery.

Acknowledgements: Chester-le-Street Heritage Group

Ernest Scott Hunter is remembered in Chester-le-Street on C105.28 and C105.40 at Sacriston on S113.04 and at Whitley Bay on W84.01

He is also remembered in Canada on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance.

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
The CWGC entry for Private Hunter