HUNT, Andrew Clarence

HUNT, Andrew Clarence – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 6913
RANK : Private
UNIT : 15th Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 2/08/1916
AGE : 21
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Warwick, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Merriwa, New South Wales
RELIGION : Church of England
OCCUPATION : Labourer
DATE OF DEATH : 21/03/1966
PLACE OF BURIAL : Inglewood, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

View Veteran’s Service File : HUNT, Andrew Clarence

NOTES :  Andrew Hunt was one of six children born to Joseph and Mary Ann [nee French] Hunt of Merriwa, New South Wales. At 21 years of age, he was living at Inglewood and working as a labourer when he volunteered to join the 1st Australian Imperial Force on 2 August 1916. His father was listed as his next of kin.

Leaving from Brisbane, the HMAT A36 Boonah sailed from Australian shores on 21 October 1916 with Andrew aboard, bound for Plymouth. From there he marched into the 4th Training Battalion and at the end of February 1917 and later he embarked aboard the SS Invicta for Etaples, France as a member of the 15th Battalion.

His older brother Charles Herbert Hunt 1148 MM, 34th Battalion, was wounded twice in action and gassed in 1918. Charles was awarded the Military Medal for bravery under fire. He returned to Australia in 1919.

In March 1917, Andrew was sent to hospital suffering from a bout of the mumps. He returned to the field and had only been back with his unit a week before he was classified as missing in action. During the fighting at Reincourt, France on 11 April 1917, Andrew was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. Records confirming his capture indicated he had suffered wounds to his head.

For almost two years Andrew found himself interned at Barache Z 3605 Soltau. While he was a POW, his next of kin was listed as his sister, Miss Sabina Hunt, Kurumbul, Queensland as his father had died while he was incarcerated. He was repatriated from Soltau to England on 9 January 1919.

The Warwick Daily News published an article on 17 April 1919 stating:

Private J. M. O’Leary, 47th Battalion, Warwick; Private A. C. Hunt, 15th Battalion, Warwick; and Private W.B.S. McIntosh, Warwick, have been listed for return to Australia by the transport Plassy, and are actually enroute from abroad.

Andrew was discharged from the A.I.F. at Brisbane due to termination of period of enlistment. On 31 October 1921 Andrew married Ivy Cecelia Jentz and the couple lived in the Inglewood region for the remainder of their lives.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

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