Walter joined the 2nd Bn Royal Warwicks on the 9th Sept 1914 and landed in France on the 17th May 1915. He made his way forward with the rest of the 7th Division 22nd Briggade towards the front. His first night in the trenches was his 22nd birthday. The Battle of Loos started with a British bombardment on the German lines. For five days, the guns rained shells to weaken defences and cut wire. On the morning of the 25th, the high explosive shells were exchanged for gas, a tactic to wipe out any german resistance. The way forward was clear... "The 2nd Battalion went over the top at 6.30 in the morning. In the face of a terrific fire they reached the first line of trenches to find that the wire was not cut. Private Arthur Vickers on his own initiative and with the utmost bravery ran forward in front of his company, and standing up in broad daylight under heavy fire cut two gaps in the wire. His gallant action contributed largely to the success of the assault, and was justly rewarded with the Victoria Cross, the first that had been won by a soldier of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment". The failure to cut the wire was not the only problem the 22nd would deal with that morning. "the field batteries were placed South of the Vermelles-Hulluch road about 700 yards behind the old British front line, and ordered to enfilade the German trenches opposite the 22nd Brigade, where matters had un-fortunately gone nothing like so well as on the 20th's front. On this part of the line the gas seems to have hung about the British trenches, and many men, particularly in the Royal Warwickshires, were incapacitated by it, while, as already mentioned, the wire, hidden by long grass, loomed into sight. When the South Staffords and Royal Warwickshires reached it they found great stretches uncut. Determined efforts were made to get through the obstacle and to cut the wire by hand, but from the trenches behind, a deadly fire was poured in, machine-guns in the Pope's Nose being specially effective, and casualties were numerous. The first line was gained, but at a heavy cost." Continuing to advance through the Quarries the battalion carried the second line also, but on reaching St. Elie at 9.30 were checked. Nevertheless they held on till dusk, when owing to the retire-ment of the 9th Division on their right they were compelled to fall back. When the battalion was mustered at midnight there were present no officers and only 140 men. Lt.-Colonel Lefroy and 2 of his officers had been mortally wounded, 7 other officers were killed, 7 were wounded and 1 was a prisoner. Of the men 64 were killed, 171 wounded and 273 were missing. Pte Walter Hunt was one of the many wounded in that attack. He was passed back down the line and eventually returned to No 4 Military Hospital Lincoln, where due to the nature of his wounds he passed on the 16th Oct 1915. His body was returned to his family in West Bromwich, a rare event for the day and he received a full military funeral. W. Bromwich Free Press 29th Sept 1915. “Two of our local heros, Pte W Hunt (22) and Pte J Grosvenor (19) were accorded a military funeral ... The day of the funeral was a day of almost general mourning in the town. In front of long lines of houses in the streets through which the mournful cortege passed, blinds were lowered. The body of Hunt was borne on a gun carriage, and that of Grosvenor in a hearse, both draped with the Union Jack and covered with flowers. The Band of the 8th R. Warwicks headed the funeral procession and the R. Engineers furnished two bearer detachments, whilst the firing party was supplied from the 8th R Warwicks. When the procession passed down the High Street, crowds of sympathetic onlookers lined the footpaths. In the cemetery there was something like 2000 people present. The service over the grave was conducted by th Rev. W Wibby in which he called for.... 'others to show the courage and commitment to their country as these two men lying side-by-side'..... 'I ask you to go forward in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and offer your services for King and Country'. After the firing party had fired three volleys over the grave, the Last Post was sounded, and the band played "Nearer, My God, to Thee."

Dan Allinson