A Weston Anzac Hero 

A grave in far away Peterborough, England, is the final resting place of Sergeant Thomas Hunter. An enormous three metre tall monument stands above the grave, and inscribed upon it are the following words...

“In gratitude of a lonely Anzac Sergeant T.Hunter, 10th Australian Corps of Kurri Kurri, N.S.W. Mortally wounded in France, fighting for the Allies. Died in this city, July 31st, 1916, aged 36. Born at Newcastle, England. This stone and bronze tablet in Peterborough Minster erected by subscription.”

This enormous monument towers over all other headstones in that cemetery, and every Anzac Day is the scene of a service of 'Thanksgiving and Remembrance.'

Until the present war memorial at Kurri Kurri was established a few years ago it failed to record the name of T.Hunter.

So, who was Sergeant Thomas Hunter, over whose grave stands such an imposing monument, and where does he fit into the Weston story?

Like many of the early miners to work on the South Maitland Coalfield he was an Englishman. He was not an Englishman, he was a Geordie – a man who originated from Newcastle, County Durham.

On enlisting for the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) in August, 1914, he gave his age as 34 years, he was a miner, single, and his next of kin was John Hunter, of Deakin Street, Kurri Kurri.

A possible reason for his not appearing previously on earlier Kurri Kurri war memorials was that he enlisted from Adelaide, on account of his then working as a miner at Broken Hill. His 10th Battalion was made up of mostly South Australians.

There still remains some mystery surrounding Thomas Hunter's early life at Weston, but from electoral rolls it has been proven that in 1913 he was a resident of Fourth Street, Weston, and that he worked at the nearby Hebburn Colliery.

It seems that he emigrated to Australia with John and Margaret Dawson, and was perhaps their nephew.

After signing on with the A.I.F., he sailed from Adelaide in October, 1914, for the front. He was wounded at Gallipoli and after recovering went to France, where he was again wounded on July 25th, 1916.

It was felt his wounds were so severe that he had to be evacuated to England for specialist hospital treatment.

On July 30, a Red Cross train carrying war casualties from France stopped at Peterborough on its way to Halifax. Hunter, who was aboard suffering serious spinal wounds, had by then slipped into a critical condition.

It was therefore thought best to immediately remove him from the train and convey him to the nearest hospital. There, every effort was made to make him as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, it was seen that he had not long to live.

Perfectly conscious, he recognised the seriousness and nature of his injuries and prepared to meet his end like a true soldier. Soothed and tended by the gentle hands of nurses, he passed away peacefully early on the morning of Monday, July 31.

Among Hunter's meagre possessions was a pipe inscribed with the word 'Anzac,' together with the date – 25/4/15 – indicating he was an original Anzac, filling pride of place in our illustrious history.

Sergeant Thomas Hunter was the first overseas soldier to die whilst in Peterborough, having a marked effect upon that city. The mayor made arrangements for a funeral with full military honours.

Meanwhile, the editor of the local Peterborough newspaper wrote moving tributes to Sergeant Hunter, who, he pointed out was so far from home and friends, which touched the sympathy and patriotism of an entire city.

Floral tributes flowed into the hospital, including choice blooms and modest flowers plucked from cottage gardens, and wreaths put together by the tender hands of little children.

Six thousand or more miles away in Australia, anxious relatives and friends were awaiting news of his progress at the very time his body was committed to mother earth in the Peterborough cemetery.

The last rites were full of solemnity and deeply impressive. As the funeral procession wended its way through the streets of Peterborough, the solemn tolling of the funeral bell was heard across the city, amid the measured tread of marching military.

Following the crackle of rifles as the firing party gave their token of respect, the war hero's coffin was slowly lowered whilst a message of comfort was delivered by the minister.

The cloudless summer day stood out in sharp contrast to the mournful scene that was being enacted. Overhead an aeroplane sailed placidly along on its journey.

The mayor then delivered a touching address… “My friends, I feel I would like to say a few words about this soldier lad. Sergeant Thomas Hunter belonged to the Australian Forces. So far as we know, we have no trace of his father or mother.

“He was passing through Peterborough last Saturday night on the train of wounded, but on arrival he was found to be too ill to continue the journey, and was conveyed to our hospital, where he died.

“It was the wish of several of us that this lad, away from home and relatives, and left in our care, should have some honour and respect shown to his memory, to show our appreciation of his service and sacrifice.

“I know I'm voicing your wishes and desire when I express, on your behalf, our sympathy and condolences with his friends and relatives, and to Australia the great debt we owe to the men who responded so quickly to the call of Empire.

“It was a great honour to Australia to have given such a son, and a great privilege to us today, in this small way, to show our appreciation to his heroism.

“Wreaths have come from factory girls and our own wounded lads, as well as our leading citizens and I am grateful to all who have gathered here at the graveside to honour the memory of one we love for the sake of the sacrifice he made for us and the Old Country.”

Silence, which could be felt, followed the mayor's earnest and heart-rending words, only to be broken by the stifled sobs of women – mothers, sisters, and wives and sweethearts, with their own boys fighting for their country's cause.

The 'Peterborough Advertiser' opened a public subscription fund for a suitable memorial to the 'Lonely Anzac.' Sufficient funds were raised to erect a bronze plaque in Peterborough Cathedral and the tall granite Celtic Cross memorial over Sergeant Hunter's grave.

[Transcribed for the Weston History and Heritage website by Mélissa Martin]