William Hunter (1889-1916)

William Johnstone Hunter was born on 11 January 1889 in Edinburgh, Scotland, to William Paul Hunter (a grocer) and Jane Johnstone.

William moved to Port Coquitlam and was a member of the Ranchers Football Club – playing half back. George also moved to the city.

William enlisted very early in the war (September 1914) and stated that he belonged to the 31st BC Horse regiment.

Throughout 1916, William wrote many letters to his brother, who shared them with the newspapers. In January, he said his battalion had won a football championship held in the French trenches. He was serving with W.W. McLellan from Coquitlam and visited the 29th Battalion where he met several other friends from the area. “Everybody is cheerful and the letter is written in a buoyant tone”.

In July, William wrote from Belgium with news of McLellan’s injury and recovery. He said the recent fighting was “hellish” – “I never expected to come out alive. Only another lance corporal and myself were left in our lot at the finish and now I am senior sergeant.”

Photo credit: Vancouver Daily World (19 October 1916)

William as killed in action on 26 September 1916. “While in the ‘jumping off’ trench shortly before an attack made on enemy positions near Courcelette, he was struck and instantly killed by a fragment of an enemy shell.”

George died in 1922 after a sudden heart attack that left him in a ditch. He was due to travel back to Scotland to see his mother, but his travel plans had been delayed for a few days due to the loss of his passport. He was held in great esteem by Port Coquitlam and several city officials (including the mayor, Arthur Mars) were pallbearers.