Lives of the First World War

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. 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. In Macclesfield, Private Ralph Hunt is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael’s Church and Hurdsfield Holy Trinity Church war memorials. NOTES Ralph was the older brother of Albert Edward Hunt, who survived the war.

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