On the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium is the name of Captain George Edward Hunter, serving with the 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 26/04/1915.

W. Bro. Revd. David T. Youngson, PPAG Chaplain, Northumberland offers the following:

The information given below in respect of some of the brethren is the best possible conclusions from Lodge records, Grand Lodge records & Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

685 Northumberland Lodge
Year of Warrant 1856
Masonic Hall Grainger Street Newcastle upon Tyne

Captain George Edward HUNTER
Northumberland Fusiliers 6th Battalion (Territorial)

The son of Edward and Anne Cunningham Hunter of Wentworth, Gosforth, Northumberland he was an Architect later joining his Father’s firm, Hunter and Henderson, Stockbrokers of Newcastle and became a Partner. He was Commissioned in 1904 and Gazetted as Captain in 1908. He was Initiated on the 7th March 1911; Passed 3rd October 1911 and Raised on the 7th November 1911. He was appointed Inner Guard in 1912; Junior Deacon 1913 and Senior Deacon in 1914.

He was killed in action during the Second Battle of Ypres near St. Julien on the 26th April, 1915 aged 28 and is Remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 8 and 12.

Following his death being recorded in the Lodge Minutes a letter from his father was received by the Lodge I am most grateful to the Northumberland Lodge for the kind sympathy in our great grief. Our only consolation is the kindness we have received from our friends and the knowledge that our boys did their duty.

His brother Captain Howard Tomlin Hunter, Commanding D Company 1/6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and his sister’s fiancé Lieutenant Arthur Richmond Garton of the same Battalion were killed in action the same day. All are Remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

Captain Howard Tomlin Hunter was a Medical Student and qualified in 1910 and studied surgery at St. Bartholomew’s London and in Vienna. An obituary appears in the Durham College of Medicine Gazette other details of the attack are found in the Official History of the Northumberland Fusiliers (1915 Vol 1)

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

George Edward Hunter was the eldest of two son and one of three children offspring of Edward Hunter and Anne Cunningham Thompson, both of whom were born in Alnwick, Northumberland, July 17th 1859 and July 11th 1862, respectively. Ann Cunningham Thompson was the daughter of ironmonger George Thompson and Christiana Robertson.

Edward and Anne were married in the district of Alnwick in 1885 but settled at Elswick, a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne where he was employed as a bank manager. Their daughter Anne Tomlin Hunter also known as Una and Annie, was born in 1886 and baptised May 25th, George Edward, March 27th 1887, baptised May 18th and Howard Tomlin in 1888, baptised November 2nd at St. Pauls, Elswick as had been his siblings. 

In 1891 the family was living at 8, Wentworth Place, Elswick, ten years later Edward had his own business as a stock and shares broker, employing others. Only Una/Annie (14) was living at home, her brothers had both been sent to boarding school. To assist his wife in the running of the household Edward employed a cook and a housemaid.

George Edward Hunter began his education as a boarder at Aysgarth, a leading prep school for boys in Bedale, North Yorkshire where he won a scholarship for Charterhouse in Surrey, and was residing in 1901 at the Charterhouse boarding house, Charterhouse Road, Godalming. He went on to study architecture joining Messrs. Cackett and Burns Dick and took his A.R.L.B.A. 

In 1911 the family occupied a 19 roomed home, Wentworth, The Grove, Gosforth, employing 3 servants. George Edward (24) was now employed by his father’s firm of Messrs Hunter and Henderson, stockbrokers, 24, Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne and by 1913 was a full partner, his brother Howard (22) had qualified as a doctor, their sister Una/Annie (25) was still unmarried. The census lists Anne Cunningham Hunter as head of the household, her husband was spending the evening at The Constitutional Club, Northumberland Avenue, The Strand, London. 

Prior to the commencement of war George Edward had joined the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The volunteer battalions were redesignated after the Boer War, the 3rd Volunteer Battalion became know as the 6th (City) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers of the Territorial Force, to which he was assigned  as 2nd Lieutenant and raised to the rank of Captain in 1908. The battalion H.Q. of “A” to “H” companies was based at St. George’s Drill Hall, Northumberland Street, Newcastle upon Tyne.

When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914, the Territorial Forces were mobilised. The 6th Battalion was initially posted to the Tyne Defences but also trained men for the draft and departed to the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force, April 1915. 

The 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers upon its arrival was attached to the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. Still unprepared and without any trench familiarisation they were rushed across France to Belgium where, within 2 weeks of their arrival, they were fighting in the front line during the Second Battle of Ypres which raged, April 22nd-May 25th 1915.

The village of St. Julien, just north of Ypres, was taken by the Germans, April 25th 1915, using gas for the first time. The 6th Battalion N.F. were in action during the Battle of St. Julien, April 24th-May 4th, followed by the Battle of Frezenburg Ridge, May 8th-15th and Bellewaarde Ridge, May 24th-25th 1915.

 Captain George Edward Hunter Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action April 26th 1915 by a shell fragment during the actions at St. Julien. His brother Captain Howard Tomlin Hunter was also killed that same day, their sister’s fiancé, Lieutenant A.R. Ganton, also 6th Battalion N. F. who was the son of Lieutenant Colonel William Ganton, was killed April 27th 1915. 

Captain George Edward Hunter was 28 years of age and single. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 54,395 names inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in the town of Ypres, Belgium commemorating Commonwealth soldiers who died on the Ypres salient before, August 15th 1917 and who have no known grave or whose graves could no longer be found. His name appears above that of his brother Captain Howard Tomlin Hunter.

His father Edward Hunter as administrator received all monies due to his late son from the Army and applied for his awards of the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Una Tomlin Hunter served as Lady Superintendent, Voluntary Aid Detachment B.R.C.S. & St. John during WW1.

In 1939 Edward and Anne Cunningham Hunter  were still living in the same home with a cook and a parlour maid in attendance. Their daughter, registered as Una Tomlin Hunter, had married civil engineer, Sydney Banks Keast at Marylebone, Middlesex, who was born in Lambeth, London, June 5th 1884.

Edward Hunter died at his home in Gosforth, February 4th 1942, effects in the sum of £106320 19 shillings 3 pence to Spencer Hume stockbroker and Thomas Alfred Bertram Forster solicitor. His widow Ann Cunningham Hunter nee Thompson died November 25th 1945, effects in the sum of £18375 13 shillings 1 pence to Martins Bank Limited.

With the death of Edward Hunter and in the absence of a male heir, this branch of the Hunter family ceased to exist.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

George Edward Hunter is remembered at Gosforth on G9.06,  G9.10 and G9.37,  at Newcastle upon Tyne on NUT148 and in the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18  (London).