Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 5199    Session 19 (4:30pm Friday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,900

PAIR TO KIA: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. Chaplain. D. De V.Hunter. A.I.F. Both medals impressed. Very fine.

Together with cast Memorial Plaque inscribed to David De-Vin Hunter.

David de Vinny Hunter (shown in official records with several variations of his second name however in his own hand he records his name as David de Vinney Hunter but signs as David D.Hunter), Methodist Minister, age 40, born at Banbridge, Ireland, came to Australia as an infant, educated at Newington College and at date of enlistment was living at The Parsonage, Ballina, NSW; applied for commission with Chaplain's Department with previous military service of 2 years in Senior Cadets; commissioned as Captain Chaplain 4th Class 24Aug1916, CAG No.113 dated 31Aug1916; Emb.24Aug1916; Disemb.11Oct1916 at Plymouth; proceeded to France 02Jan1917; TOS 14 Inf Bde HQs 09Jan1917 ex 1 Aust Dermatological Hosp; Detached for duty to 55Bn 19Jan1917; KIA 28Sep1917, Belgium, the first Methodist Chaplain to die at the front line (Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 18Jan1918, p8); buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium.

Report of Chaplain David de Vinny Hunter's death.
On the 28th September 1917, when the 55th Battalion had consolidated after the successful attack on Polygon Wood, Chaplain Hunter paid a visit to the front line positions, and was returning in the company of Chaplain Greville of the 56th Bn through Glencorse Wood when he was killed by a shell bursting at their feet. His body was carried out to the Dressing Station at Clapham Junction, Hooge near Ypres. Later transport was sent by this unit to bring his body to the rear, but no trace could be found of it. Divisional Burial Party was working in the vicinity, but they had no record of having buried Chaplain Hunter. Further search was later made but with no success.

With research.