WWI - Can I prove we are related?

[DavidWW]

Hi Brian
An option might be to contact NAS and ask the cost of either a photocopy or a digitised version of the will - I think they were digitising "on demand" at one point, maybe still are: if a particular one was asked for it was done ahead of those which were not asked for, with the eventual aim being digital copies of all of them.

Lesley

.....snipped..........

"On demand" rings bells, - worth asking.

David

[DavidWW]

The newspaper suggestion is very worthwhile.

In fact, I'd forgotten that the Black Watch regimental museum at Balhousie Castle have press cuttings books from WWI involving their soldiers.

Write to the Archivist (he was Thomas B Smyth in 1998) at Balhousie Castle, Hay Street, Perth, PH1 5HR, Perth & Kinross, Scotland. A donation to the museum is appreciated, - I'd suggest £15; or you can visit the Fair City

David

[Rockford]

Hi everyone,

An update on progress....

I sent a request to Edinburgh for a copy of Pte Hunter's will and received it this morning (I would have had it earlier, but the postie mislaid the first one I was sent...)

The will states that Pte Hunter left all of his property etc, to his wife Mary M Hunter, living at an address in Kirkcaldy. I've searched on SP for all Peter Hunters marrying anyone called Mary between 1890 and 1915 and got several hits, one of which was for a marriage in Dysart, Fife, in 1902 between Peter Hunter and Mary Mathieson. This is the correct Peter Hunter.

As Dysart is next door to Kirkcaldy and the marriage I found is the only one that fits i.e right wife's first name, right place, taking the marriage and the will together I'm fairly sure that Pte Peter Hunter, who died on 25 September 1915, is my great granduncle.

I've also downloaded his Medal Card from the National Archives, which states that he entered the theatre of war in France on 14th July 1915. The moving thing is that his will was only written on 9th July 1915, I assume just before he left for France and Flanders, where he died only ten weeks later. He would have been 32 years old, the same age I am now.

I can only think of what must have been going through his mind when he wrote the few short paragraphs in his paybook and where he might have been when he wrote them.

I've still to contact the local paper in Fife to see if there is a note or a picture of him. I'll let you all know if I find anything.

Brian

[LesleyB]

Hi Brian
Great to hear you have made some progress and confirmed who Peter Hunter was.

I saw an exhibition of the soldiers' wills at NAS about a year or so ago - it was a very moving and sobering experience. So many wee slips of paper representing so many young lives needlessly wasted. Very sad.

Best wishes
Lesley

[DavidWW]

.....much snipped........

I've still to contact the local paper in Fife to see if there is a note or a picture of him. I'll let you all know if I find anything.

Brian

Either that or contact The Black Watch museum in Perth. If there was an entry in a newspaper or newspapers, then it's near certain that their WWI cuttings books will contain a copy.

Write to the Archivist (he was Thomas B Smyth in 1998) at Balhousie Castle, Hay Street, Perth, PH1 5HR, Perth & Kinross, Scotland. A donation to the museum is appreciated, - I'd suggest £10; or you can visit the Fair City .

Or you can email them, see http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/archives/index.html . Given the way in which they are no longer funded by the Minstry of Defence, it may be the case that they now make standard charges for the research.

David

[rivergazer]

Brian

That's brilliant to know that you are on the right track and making progress with your man.

I hope you strike lucky and manage to get a photo of him (that you can also show off to us all).

Good Luck

ps: Have not forgotten about a visit to Peter's grave in a month or so's time and will get a photo for you.

[DavidWW]

Brian

That's brilliant to know that you are on the right track and making progress with your man.

I hope you strike lucky and manage to get a photo of him (that you can also show off to us all).

Good Luck

ps: Have not forgotten about a visit to Peter's grave in a month or so's time and will get a photo for you.

Many newspaper articles in WWI included photos ........

David

[Rockford]

ps: Have not forgotten about a visit to Peter's grave in a month or so's time and will get a photo for you.

Rivergazer,

I remember you making your generous offer when I first posted about Peter Hunter. If you were able to take a photograph for me I'd be grateful.

For a photo of the man himself, I'm going to try the main library in Kirkcaldy first and, if no luck there, I'll try Balhousie as David suggests.

Best wishes

Brian

[Rockford]

Just an update for everyone...

I spent yesterday at the Central Library in Kirkcaldy looking through microfilm newspapers from WW1. Peter Hunter is named in a book listing all soldiers from Kirkcaldy and Dysart who are known to have died in the war and cross references their names with dates that they featured in the local papers. This was really helpful in focusing my search!

Pte Hunter is listed in several newspapers, at the time of his death and in general Rolls of Honour listing all the men from particular areas or between certain dates that gave their lives. Unfortunately, none of these include a photograph of him and neither does the 'War Album' that one of the Fife papers produced at periodic intervals during the war. In most cases, he is listed by name, regiment and address (all of which I knew beforehand).

However, in 1916, 1917 and 1918, on the anniversary of his death, his wife placed moving 'In Memoriam' notices.

23 September 1916
In loving memory of my husband, Private Peter Hunter, 9th Black Watch, killed in action at Loos, September 25th 1915.

Had we but seen him yet in life,
Watched by his dying bed,
Caught the last flickering of his breath,
And touched his dying head,
We think our hearts would not have felt,
Such bitterness of grief,
But God had willed it otherwise,
And now he rests in peace.
----

25 September 1917
In loving memory of my husband, Private Peter Hunter, Black Watch, killed in action at Loos, September 25th 1915.

Far o'er the seas lies my brave soldier husband,
Low in the grave with his comrades he is laid,
He fought for the cause and the flag of Old Britain,
The price of its freedom with his life he has paid,
His war is over, his sun is set,
But I who loved him will ne'er forget.

----

His wife is listed as Mrs Hunter, or Mrs May Hunter, which fits what I know, but doesn't confirm one way or the other that Pte Hunter and my relation are the same person.

In the same way, none of the entries in the newspapers confirm Private Hunter's date of birth, which is a little disappointing, as this is the missing piece of information that would help me to categorically state that he is my grandfather's uncle, however, I think that the circumstantial evidence is strong and I'll keep pursuing it!

Brian

[rivergazer]

Hi

True to my word and as I said I would, I spent some time to hunt out and photograph Peter's grave at Philosophe cemetery on a recent family holiday.

I even 'lost' my daughter and family for a time in my quest to honour my intentions, as they continued to follow a French family in their car who thought they were leading us to Philosophe, but in fact led them to another British cemetery.

Anyhow, I see that you already have a photo of Peter's grave from your search on the Great War Forum.