David's Story.
David was one of sixteen children born to Charles and Fanny Hunt, the 1911 census show the family living at 106 St. Pauls, Rock Ferry. David is listed age 17, and working as a labourer, with a ship builder. Sadly, for the family the census shows that of the sixteen children, seven had died. David’s siblings living in the family home were, Charles 22, George 15, Fanny 13, Lily 11, Maud 8, and Alfred 8 months.
David enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment at the outbreak of war and posted to the 8th battalion. The battalion was formed at Chester and came under the orders of the 40th Brigade, they moved to Tidworth and then in October 1914 moved to Chisledon. In February 1915 they completed training in Pirbright. The battalion embarked for Egypt 26 June 1915.
From Egypt they were sent to Gallipoli. After the evacuation in January 1916, they moved to Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). British troops had landed in the area in 1914 to secure the oilfields around Basra. Following early success, the expeditionary force advanced northwards with the intent of capturing Baghdad. However, strong resistance was met from the Turkish army and the force was obliged to retreat to the city of Kut, where it was besieged, from early December 1915. Several attempts to relieve the garrison were made throughout the early part of 1916. On 21 April, David and his comrades were part of almost the final attempt at rescue. The Battalion's War Diary records that, in the early hours of the 21st, troops of the North Staffordshire and Gloucestershire Regiments captured a section of the Turkish front line to the right of the Cheshires positions. At 5.30pm, the Cheshires were ordered forward from their support positions to dig-in near to the captured trench. They managed to do this in spite of machine gun fire which continued until they had managed to properly entrench. Casualties were comparatively light, but David was one of three men to be killed. In the very fluid state of the campaign, it is no surprise that the location of his grave was lost during the course of the War and he is now commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing. The Garrison at Kut surrendered on 26 April.
The Birkenhead News, Saturday 17 March 1917 listed David as missing for eleven months by this time the family were living at 130 Peel Street, Lower Tranmere.
David parents were listed as his next of kin, his soldiers effects register shows Charles received £7 10 shillings war gratuity.
His Pension Ledger card confirms the family address.