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

He died in the same incident as his brother, Capt. G.E. Hunter, and his sister’s fiancé Lieut. A.R. Garton.

Barry Greenbank has supplied the following:

Howard Tomlin Hunter was born in 1888 in Newcastle upon Tyne, the son of Edward Hunter and his wife, Anne Cunningham Hunter, who were themselves both born in Alnwick. Howard was baptised at St. Paul’s, Elswick on 2nd November 1888.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Wentworth Place, Elswick. Father Edward, aged 31, was a bank manager. His wife was aged 28. There were three children, all born in Newcastle: Annie, aged 4; George E, aged 3, and Howard, aged 2. There were two servants.

The 1901 Census shows Howard, aged 12, attending Aysgarth School in Yorkshire.

The 1911 Census shows the family at “Wentworth”, Gosforth. Anne Cunningham, now aged 48, had been married 22 years and had three children. The three children were Una, aged 24 (was she called Annie in the 1891 Census?). George Edward, now aged 24, was a stock and share broker; Howard, aged 22, was a doctor. There were three servants

Howard played cricket at Durham University and also at the Northumberland County Club, but not in county matches.

After his death, there was no probate.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Howard Tomlin Hunter was the youngest of 2 brother and one of 3 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/Annie, was born in 1886 and baptised May 25th, George Edward, March 27th 1887, baptised May 18th and Howard Tomlin, October 1st 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.

Howard Tomlin 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. He attended Durham University and graduated M.B., B.S., in 1910, continuing his post-graduate studied at the Royal Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. 

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, Howard (22) a qualified doctor for his own account, 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 Howard Tomlin 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 1912. 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 Howard Tomlin Hunter Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action, April 26th 1915, during the actions at St. Julien. His College Gazette gave the following details of his death, “ He led his men through the cross-fire of machine guns and shrapnel, trying to reach the German trenches in a series of rushes. When close to his objective he was struck in the leg, but stuck to his job, gamely cheering on his men. While being helped to the rear he was struck again in the chest, and almost immediately dropped dead.”

His brother Captain George Edward Hunter was also killed April 26th 1915, struck by shrapnel, their sister’s fiancé, Lieutenant A.R. Ganton, also 6th Battalion N. F. the son of Lieutenant Colonel William Ganton, was killed April 27th 1915. 

Captain Howard Tomlin Hunter was 27 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 below that of his brother Captain George Edward 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.

Howard Tomlin Hunter is remembered at Gosforth on G9.06, G9.10 and G9.37,  at Durham in D47.151 page 50,  at Jesmond on J1.12  and at Newcastle on NUT051 and NUT066.

His name is also on the memorial in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.