Captain Herbert Humphreys (Herb) HUNTER
7th Battalion AIF
By Russell Paten
“Well, what could a chap do? A chap could not stop out”.
(Response from Hunter when asked why he enlisted when he could have so easily have sat out the Great War)1
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Herbert Humphreys Hunter was born on 18 November 1881 in Bendigo, Victoria. The birthplace stated on his birth record is Sandhurst, because Bendigo went by that name in 18812 He was the youngest of ten children (five daughters and five sons) born to George Frederick Hunter and local resident, Elizabeth (née Humphreys), who were married on 11 September 1862.
Herbert’s father was born about 1831 in Ramsgate, Kent, England and was employed as a civil engineer. He subsequently immigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in 1854. He travelled to Bendigo where he purchased and ran the established Kent Brewery in McRae Street. An interesting entry in the 1898 Victorian Police Gazette advised that George Hunter reported the theft of a gold watch valued at five pounds, from his residence. There is no reference to indicate whether it was recovered, or not.
Herbert received his schooling at Caulfield Grammar School, Church of England Grammar School and Melbourne Grammar School. His outstanding sporting career started while at Melbourne Grammar School. While still there as a student, he played three AFL* senior matches for Essendon in 1900. These were the only first grade games he played and he resumed playing school football as a member of Melbourne Grammar’s First XVIII.
Another area of excellence was athletics. On 4 January, 1901, at a special Commonwealth Celebration Championship competition, held at the Sydney Cricket Ground to mark the proclamation of the Federation of Australia on 1 January, 1901, Herbert Hunter, competing for the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association (VAAA), registered some outstanding performances:
- First place: (AAGPS)3 running broad jump: 21 feet 11 inches (a world schoolboy record)
- First place: (AAGPS) 100 yards: 11 seconds
- First place: (AAGPS) 120 yards hurdles: 17.6 seconds
- Second Place: (open age) 100 yards (winner’s time 10.6 seconds)
- Second Place: (open age) broad jump: 21 feet 4½ inches
* Australian Football League
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On 2 January 1901, at the 33rd gathering of the Highland Society of New South Wales, again representing the VAAA at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he had taken the significant open age amateur sprinter’s handicap double.
- First place (running off 5½ yards): “Hopetoun Sprint” 100 yards amateur handicap (NSWAAA) Final: 9.8 seconds
- First place (running off 11½ yards): “Federation Plate” 200 yards amateur handicap (NSWAAA) Final: 22.2 seconds
Following his school years, Herbert enrolled to study dentistry while a resident of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne. There, he continued to excel at sport, and was awarded a double blue in football and athletics. In December 1904, he graduated from the University of Melbourne with a diploma for Licentiate of Dentistry.
In 1905, Herbert travelled to England and then to America. He continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania4 where, in 1906, he gained the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery.
He became a member of the Australian College of Dentistry in 1906 and on 20 December 1907, was registered to practise in Victoria. He then moved back to Bendigo where he established his own dental surgery in Williamson Street. He kept his practice until the outbreak of war in 1914. Herbert’s keen participation in sport had continued following his years of study and he was still president of the Bendigo Football League. He was also a keen amateur boxer and refereed many local contests.
His military career started in the 67th (Bendigo) Infantry Battalion in the Citizens’ Military Forces (CMF). As a member of this battalion, he was granted the following commissions.
- 2nd Lieutenant – 9 April 1908
- 1st Lieutenant – 20 March 1911
- Captain – 1 November 1913
Britain declared war with Germany on 4 August 1914 and Hunter wasted no time in applying, on 29 August, for a commission in the 7th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force, which had been formed on 15 August 1914. His application was accepted.
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The battalion commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Harold (‘Pompey’) Elliott recommended that Herbert Hunter be appointed as captain of G Company. His application form states: height 5ft 9¾ ins, weight 11st 10lbs. His eyesight was rated at 6/9; his chest measurement was an extraordinary 39 ins, the mark of an athlete. Although his hair colour is not listed, his school nickname was ‘Rusty’ and, while a captain in the 7th Battalion, his troops referred to him as ‘Captain Ginger’, which suggests a specific hair colour.
Prior to leaving for the front, Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter was presented with a beautiful sword, suitably inscribed by the Bendigo Football League. The following report of the speech made by him in returning thanks for the gift, serves to indicate the unhesitating manner in which he offered his services to his country.
“I appreciate very much the gift that has been handed to me and hope I will be able to do some good work with it. My action in volunteering my services to the Empire is, I consider the culminating point of my athletic career. I loved my athletics and when my training was finished and my character formed, I tried to show the younger generation the benefits to be derived from amateur sport. In my opinion, one of the objects of athletics is to fit the mind and body to defend one’s country. Had I not held a commission in the Citizen Forces, I think I would have volunteered my services anyway but as I was an officer in the military, it was not, I considered, a matter of option but of duty, and I consider it a pleasant duty. I am pleased to know I have done my duty so far and, if I can lead the Bendigo boys alright, I will be satisfied. They will no doubt have to bog in and, if they do, I feel confident they will come off best. I am going out to do my duty and not to look for VCs. I trust that with the sword that has been presented to me, I will be able to uphold the honour and dignity of Australia and the British Empire”.
The 7th Battalion was one of the first units raised, formed less than a fortnight after the declaration of war and, with the 5th, 6th and 8th Battalions, comprised the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division AIF. The battalion initially comprised eight companies designated A to H. Initial training was undertaken at Broadmeadows, 20 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. On 25 September, the battalion marched through the city of Melbourne.
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It was reported as “A Stirring Spectacle”, the greatest parade that had ever been seen in the city, with huge crowds lining the streets.5 The Governor-General was most favourably impressed with the steadiness of the Light Horse, the swinging step of the Infantry and the physique of the entire force.6
On 18 October, after reveille at 5am, the 7th Battalion marched to Broadmeadows station, travelled by train to Port Melbourne and was aboard the troopship HMAT A20 Hororata which it was to share with the 6th Battalion, by midday.
On 28 November, while the ship was moving along the Red Sea towards Suez, a significant decision affecting the Australian Imperial Force was announced. Instead of continuing on to England as many expected, their destination would be Egypt, for further training. Since the AIF troops had departed Australian waters, Turkey had entered the war as an ally of Germany.
Hororata arrived in Egypt on 2 December 1914. The troops began additional training and acclimatisation activities, including desert route marches and mock attacks.
Captain HH Hunter, centre, on horseback, Cairo 1914.
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On 1 January 1915, the men of the 2nd Brigade were addressed by the commander, Colonel James McCay and told of the new battalion organisation. The Australian battalions were reorganised from eight-company battalions to come in line with recent changes adopted in the British Army.
This amalgamation meant that each battalion now had four companies consisting of six officers and 221 men, at full strength.
The new organisation resulted in Captain Hunter being 2iC of D Company with Captain Blezard being appointed OC.
Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter, Mena Camp, 1914.
The Turkish Government now took steps to attack the Suez Canal. If successful, shipping from Australia would be forced to take the long voyage around the Cape of Good Hope. In early January, the Turks began their advance across the barren and almost trackless Sinai Peninsula. On 3 February, the Turkish army began their attack on the canal near Serapeum. This led to the 7th and 8th Battalions being sent from Cairo on that same day to bolster the defence.
The 7th Battalion left Mena at 10.30am and marched the 16 kilometres to the Cairo railway station for transport to Ismailia. They arrived at Ismailia the next morning, but took no part in direct combat during the Turkish assault.
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It had already been repulsed by Indian troops and the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, which caused a heavy loss of Turkish soldiers. The 7th Battalion was subsequently sent back to the base camp, to continue training in preparation for their forthcoming active service.
The 7th Battalion training, under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Elliott was brutal. Elliott had a reputation for being outspoken, impulsive, excitable and straight as a ruled line. Intensely headstrong, he worked his men harder than any commander in the force.
Bean states in his official history that if a heavy or dangerous task had to be undertaken for the common good, Elliott’s troops would be offered to do it. Regardless of this, he was a very popular commanding officer. The tough attitude Pompey showed towards his men had strengthened them and would soon be proved worthwhile when the battalion was tested on the hills and the rugged terrain of Gallipoli.
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Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter Egypt 4 April 1915. Page 8
The 7th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Brigade, landed with the second wave on the morning of 25 April. Unlike the first wave which was landed from battleships and destroyers via their ship’s boats, the second wave disembarked from transports into small boats for the journey ashore. The 7th Battalion disembarked from the transport ship Galeka to the small boats.
Upon landing, the battalion was fragmented and Elliott was initially able to muster only a portion for an advance up to 400 Plateau where they were urgently needed to support the scattered units of the 3rd Brigade (which had comprised the first wave).
As D Company landed and Hunter leapt from the boat to the beach, he sprained his ankle but would not give in and though his foot was badly swollen, he limped along at the head of his men up the slope to support the 3rd Brigade.
The first troops of the 7th Battalion to reach 400 Plateau were two platoons of D company but, at this point, the company commander Major Blezard was shot in the chest.
The command of the company therefore passed to Hunter. Elliott continued working to collect the remainder of the 7th Battalion and send them to support the line on 400 Plateau. Elliott recorded that from his position in White’s Valley, he could make out the distinctive figure of Captain Hunter on the high ground ahead, with D Company.
The 7th continued to maintain a position in the line on 400 Plateau although their positions were completely intermingled with men of the 5th and 6th Battalions. To their left, the units of the 3rd Brigade were judged to be reaching the end of their endurance and were relieved by men of the British Royal Marine Naval Brigade.
On Thursday night, it was finally time for the 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions to be relieved. Their position in the line was taken over by the Deal Battalion of Marines. The losses to the 7th Battalion were found to be:
- Killed – 2 officers and 68 others
- Wounded – 15 officers and 229 others
- Missing – 0 officers and 227 others
The total number of casualties for the 7th Battalion from the initial landing (on Sunday 25 April) until Friday morning was 541 officers and men. Page 9
Of the missing, some were found to have been wounded and sent to the rear without record taken, and the remainder had been killed.
Following the stabilisation of the line around Gaba Tepe, it was decided to move the 2nd Brigade as well as the New Zealand Brigade further down the peninsula to Cape Helles to participate in an attack on Krithia.
Early on 6 May, the battalion embarked on the Folkestone, a deep sea trawler for a two-hour journey to ‘V’ Beach where, under the shattered stone bastions and battered village of Sedd el Bahr, they disembarked to the shore via moored lighters, forming a makeshift jetty.
The attack on Krithia was to follow the line of a series of spurs. The New Zealand Brigade was to advance via the left spur (Krithia Spur), the 2nd Brigade on the central Spur and the 2nd Naval Brigade, along with French troops, on Kereves Spur on the right. The order of advance for 2nd Brigade for the attack was to be 7th on the right, 6th on the left, with 5th and 8th in reserve.
On the morning of 8 May, the brigades moved forward toward their respective objectives. They passed through the reserve trenches manned by the 14th Sikhs toward Tommies Trench, 300 yards forward. As soon as they emerged from sheltering olive trees they were heavily shelled by Turkish guns and then came under intense rifle fire.
They had a short breather at Tommies Trench and then went forward once more. They moved in hundred-yard rushes with men falling fast and eventually were brought to a halt approximately 500 yards in front of Tommies Trench and about 500 yards short of the Turkish trenches.
Hunter, still in command of D Company, was wounded in the foot as they were advancing over open ground, making him unable to continue forward. He was quickly picked up and carried to the rear by the battalion stretcher bearers. Finding a spot behind the battle area that they considered safe, they put the stretcher down and commenced to dress his wounded foot.
At that moment, in what can only be described as a freak accident, an almost spent bullet passed between the stretcher bearers and struck Hunter in the head, killing him instantly. Thus died a brave, energetic and soldierly man who had earned and commanded the respect of all.8 He was 33 years of age.
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The attack on Krithia continued but was a costly failure and the Australian and New Zealand forces were withdrawn by boat back to Anzac.
There is no record of Hunter’s body being retrieved and buried. The location remains unknown. He is commemorated at the Helles Memorial which stands atop the Gallipoli Peninsula. Herbert Hunter’s name is listed on Panel 201 to 204.
At left: Helles Memorial Gallipoli Peninsula
Hunter had survived his father, who passed away in 1907 and his mother who died in 1911. His personal effects were forwarded to his older brother Fred Hunter, sent by Thomas Cook & Son over an extended period of time (1915 to 1920), as recorded on his dossier.
One paper parcel contained “note book, Standing Orders”. Receipts were signed by one or other of Herbert’s brothers for a kitbag, a cabin trunk and valise. The kitbag and cabin trunk were despatched in November 1915.
In Herbert’s dossier, there is one page with a long list of effects. Some of the items in the kitbag indicate that Herbert had prepared for deployment to the Western Front. He had brought from home gumboots, puttees, muffler, and French books. In a separate parcel containing personal grooming items, there was one photo. An item not listed (evidently because it was in the sealed cabin trunk) is a flask (white metal) engraved Capt. H. H. HUNTER 7TH Bn.
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On 20 December 1917, Hunter’s sister Esther Elizabeth began receiving pension payments due to his death of 40 shillings per fortnight.
Herbert Hunter’s Form of Commission was sent to his next of kin in August 1916, his 1914–15 Star was sent in October 1920 and his Victory Medal in July 1922. The Memorial Scroll and King’s Message were received in September 1921 and Memorial Plaque in December 1922.
Interestingly, in November 1921, a letter (which is part of Hunter’s dossier) was received by the Army from Lieutenant J U Leask, 11th Light Horse Regimentadvising that he was in possession of a belt owned by Hunter and requesting information on his next of kin so he could return it.
Herbert Humphreys Hunter was not the only member of the family to serve in the Great War. Cedric Evan Hunter, the third son of his brother Frederick Evan Hunter enlisted in the 4th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) (2nd Reinforcements) 1st AIF on 9 November 1915 at the age of 22. He was sent to Egypt and taken on strength in the brigade on 14 February 1916 at Zeitoun. He was then posted to 19th Battery and stationed at Tel el Kebir, not far from the Suez Canal.
Cedric proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force and embarked at Alexandria for Marseilles on 14 March 1916. He arrived in Marseilles on 19 March and was transferred to 22nd FAB on 13 May but, on 28 August was evacuated to England with synovitis (right knee) and a sprained right ankle. He returned to France on 19 December and was transferred to 5th FAB (13th Battery). He then spent four months in 4th FAB (10th Battery) before being transferred to 5th FAB (10th Battery). He was with this unit when he received a mortal shrapnel wound to the head on 27 August 1917. His grave can be found in the Voormezele Cemetery, four kilometres south of Ypres.
Herbert Hunter was mourned, not only by citizens of Bendigo, but also in the wider world of sport. In July 1920, a beautifully designed shield, now generally known as The HH Hunter Memorial Shield, carved in Australian blackwood by the prominent South Yarra artist Mr Robert Prenzel, was presented to the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association (now known as Athletics Victoria) by Marmion Percy Adams, on behalf of a group of subscribers, to be a perpetual challenge trophy for the Association’s annual track championship competition.
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The shield’s carving depicts Herbert Hunter beating the (later) Olympian athlete Nigel Barker by six inches in the 1901 national championship 100 yards race. Beneath the carving is a representation in copper, of an open book, upon which the names of the annual winners are inscribed.
At the 1904 National championships, Hunter was involved in a dramatic run-off for the 100 yards title, which he won against a great New South Wales athlete Nigel Barker. Two years earlier Hunter had run 9.8 seconds to equal the Australian record, a time which stood until 1930. 7
Since 2001, when the Victorian Athletic League was discontinued, the Hunter Shield represented the best performing male club in Victoria and since 2009, the winner is based on female and male performances at the Victorian open championships. In 2008, Athletics Bendigo renamed its Athlete of the Year trophy “the HH Hunter Athlete of the Year” in Herbert Hunter’s memory.8
IN MEMORIAM
How oft we marked him as he led the race, with flying leap, quick blow or bounding stride
But never did he set so true a pace, as when he led the battle charge – and died.
Extract from poem 8 by G H Freeman to commemorate Herbert Humphreys Hunter
Detail
of the
HH HUNTER MEMORIAL SHIELD
Herbert Humphreys Hunter’s name is located at panel 50 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial and his name is listed on the memorial in Bendigo, the city of his birth.
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Medals for Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, proudly displayed at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
7th Battalion AIF Colour Patch
Horizontally aligned, rectangular wool flannel colour patch, divided brown over red.
Motto: Cede Nullis = Submit to None.
Bibliography
AustinRon, Our Dear Old Battalion: A History of the 7th Battalion AIF, 1914–1919 Slouch Hat, 2004.
Bean CEW, Official History of Australia in the War 1914 – 1918, Volume I and Volume II, The Story of Anzac
Dean Arthur and Gutteridge Eric W, The Seventh Battalion AIF, 1933.
Kiddle JB (ed), War Services of Old Melburnians 1914-1918, 1923, p.90.
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References
Australian Military Forces – Staff and Regimental Lists
Australian Marriage Index 1788 – 1949
National Archives Australia – War Service Record WW1, Cedric Evan Hunter
National Archives Australia – War Service Record WW1 – Herbert Humphreys Hunter
AIF Burials, Gallipoli 1915
England Census 1841
The Age (Melbourne),Saturday 10 July 1920 p19, Hunter Memorial Shield
Bendigo Advertiser, Wednesday 24 September 2008, Chook caps Great Season
Bendigo Advertiser, 24 May 1915 p5, Bendigo officer killed – Captain HH Hunter. Wikipedia – Herb Hunter (footballer), Footnote 15: War Services of Old Melbournians 1914-18, 1923, p.90.
Notes
1Our Dear old Battalion p.12.
2 Bendigo was originally named after Bendigo Creek. The name of Sandhurst (after a military college in England) was adopted in 1854, but changed back to Bendigo in 1891 when residents voted (1,515 in favour and only 267 against).
3 AAGPS is the acronym for Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales; the association was formed on 30 March 1892.
4 The military service of Captain HH Hunter is noted in America at the University of Pennsylvania. The record states incorrectly that he was killed by shellfire. University of Pennsylvania, United States College Student Lists 1763–1924, Herbert Humphreys Hunter.
5 The Argus (Melbourne) Saturday 26 September 1914, page 13.
6 Message of appreciation from His Excellency the Governor-General, after the parade.
7 War Service of Old Melburnians, p. 90.
8 website: athletics.com.au/news/anzac_day_captain_hhhunter_
9 Extract from sports report “Chook caps Great Season” in Bendigo Advertiser: Athletics Bendigo has renamed its Athlete of the Year award the H.H. Hunter Athlete of the Year. The award honours Dr Herbert Humphreys Hunter, a brilliant all-rounder in many sports, who was killed at Gallipoli. Hunter was long jump and 100 yards champion of Australasia, and the H.H. Hunter Memorial Shield is awarded each year to the premier division one, men’s team in Athletics Victoria action.
10 Poem published in Bendigonian (Bendigo, Victoria 1914-1918), 27 May 1915, p.4. This poem is also published on website of Athletics Victoria
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Hunter Clan Motto: Cursum Perficio = I accomplish my course.
Completed by copyeditor Diane Melloy 2020.03.29.0900hrs
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
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