Remembering World War II

Name: James Willoughby Thomas Hunt Rank: Private Service Number: B/24246 Service: Royal Canadian Regiment, RCIC Date of Birth: July 2, 1901 Place of Birth: Wellington Barracks, Halifax, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: June 20, 1940 Age at Enlistment: 38 Place of Enlistment: Camp Borden, Ontario Address at Enlistment: 264 Booth Ave, Toronto, Ontario Height: 5 feet, 5 inches Complexion: Fair Eyes: Blue Trade: Test Driver Marital Status: Married Religion: Anglican Next of Kin: Carrie Hunt, wife Date of Death: April 1, 1941 Age: 40 Cemetery: St John’s Cemetery, Norway, Toronto, Ontario Grave: Section 11, Range 23, Grave 15 Commemorated on Page 33 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 28 James Thomas Hunt was the son of Mr. Richard Charles Hunt (1875-1928) and Mrs. Frances Amelia (Baker) Hunt 1880-1969), of Preston, Nova Scotia. His father Richard was born in Camdentown, London, England; his mother, in Jeddore, NS. His father Sergeant Richard Hunt, served as a Quartermaster (Service No. 479095) in the First World War. James had 5 brothers – all serving in the military. At the time of his enlistment in WWII, his brothers Sergeant Robert Edward “Garfield” Hunt and Sergeant George Richard Henry Hunt were both in Halifax. His brothers Private Percy Charles Harry Hunt, Company Sergeant Major Albert Harold Melbourne Hunt and Corporal William Stanley Herman Hunt were overseas – “somewhere in England”. He also had one sister Eunice who was living in Halifax with his mother at 33 Pavilion Barracks (Married Soldiers’ Quarters) at the time of his enlistment. James married Jacqueline “Carrie” Haynes, of Toronto on December 22, 1923 in London, Ontario. They had five girls and one boy – Elsie, Betty, Shirley, Joyce, Evelyn and James. He enlisted for service in the First World War at the age of 15, went to France with his unit but was found out and turned back from the front-line due to his age. He then served with defence forces in England. He served with the Canadian Army after WWI for a time from 1921 to 1924. He also served in the militia (Royal Grenadiers) from 1933 to 1937. Prior to WWII, he was working for the Dunlop Tire and Rubber Company. James died of a heart attack while on duty at Camp Borden and was buried with full military honours. He was serving with the Military Police of No. 1 (Advanced) Training Centre at the time.

James Willoughby Thomas Hunt

Sources: Canadian Virtual War Memorial