In the Albert Communal Cemetery Extension, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 23/615 Lance Corporal William Hunter serving with the 23rd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 25/06/1916.

Derek Johnstone has provided the following:

William Hunter was born at West Sleekburn, a village near Bedlington Northumberland in 1875. His parents were James Hunter from Cowpen Quay, Blyth, and Jane Hunter from Seghill.

In 1881, William lived at 9, Second Single Row, West Sleekburn at which time he was 5 years old. The Census shows his father is employed as a coal miner.

The 1891 Census records William living at 64, Double Row, West Sleekburn when he is 16 years old and working as a coal miner.

At the age of 25 in 1901 William was living at North Row, West Sleekburn where he is shown to be single and living in his father’s house. Siblings in the house include Thomas 21, Robert 19, Joseph 17, Mary Ann 13 and Elizabeth aged 10. His father was still working in the coal mines as a hewer.

William married Ellen Ann Schoffield from Sheffield in about 1903 and in 1911 he lived at Bomarsund (address 6, East Terrace, Stakeford Choppington Northumberland) in 5 rooms with his wife Anna and five children: Elizabeth 11, James 8, Ester Robson 5 and George and Henry aged 3. His wife Anna at this time was 29 and William was 36 years old, a coal miner; they had been married for 8 years.

Military records confirm William enlisted at Bedlington and his Pension Index Card shows only his widow who is named as Hannah.

William Hunter is remembered  in Bedlington on B15.26 page 12, in Stakeford on S71.02 and in West Sleekburn on W34.01