Ralph's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Ralph Hunt was baptised on 26th December 1883 at St John's Church, Macclesfield, the son of Elizabeth Ann and Daniel Hunt, a cotton weaver, of Bridge Street, Macclesfield.
In 1901, Ralph was living with his mother and siblings Annie, Albert Edward and Minnie at 18 Step Hill, Macclesfield.
At the age of 17 years 7 months, on 4th January 1902, Ralph attested at Macclesfield with the 4th (Territorial) Cheshire Regiment (service no. 4822) for six years service. His army service papers show that he was employed as a cotton weaver by Mr Smith of Tytherington, and was already serving in the 5th Cheshire Regiment. He was described as 5 feet 2½ inches tall, weighed 111 pounds and had a 33½ inch chest, with grey eyes, dark brown hair and a fresh complexion, and he had three vaccination marks on his left arm and a scar on his left leg.
Ralph married Charlotte Grice on 24th September 1904 at St Paul's Church, Macclesfield, when he was living at 10 Queen Street and Charlotte's residence was 31 Fountain Street. The couple were living at 17 Lansdowne Street, Macclesfield in 1911 and had no children at that time, but a son was born later.
WW1 SERVICE
Ralph enlisted at Macclesfield and was drafted to the Ypres Salient in Belgium on the 17th February 1915. He was killed in action less than a month later on 10th March 1915, aged 31 years.
COMMEMORATION
Private Ralph Hunt is buried in grave reference I.H.6. in Spoilbank Cemetery in Belgium. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Ralph Hunt, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Private Ralph Hunt is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials, and on the Hurdsfield Holy Trinity Church roll of honour.
An In Memoriam notice was printed in the Macclesfield Times on 9 March 1917:
HUNT – In loving memory of Private Ralph Hunt, 1st Cheshire Regt, who was killed in action March 9th, 1915.
One of the first to answer the call,
He made the greatest sacrifice of all.
Somewhere in France in a nameless grave
Lies our hero amongst the brave.Always remembered by his wife and little son.
NOTES
Ralph was the older brother of Albert Edward Hunt, who served and survived the war.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.