Info: Australian? Allied Unit,Lt Colonel Frank Albert John Hunter EC/6335, 9th Batt 8 Punjab Reg.

Discussion in 'Australian' started by spidge, Nov 15, 2011.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Info Please: Australian? in Allied Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Albert John Worthington Hunter EC/6335 - 9th Batt 8 Punjab Regiment

    Why was he with this regiment? Any information would be appreciated.

    :poppy:

    Need assistance on Who/Where/What/How for this man who is on the Australian Commemorative Roll which is for those "Australians" who died in other Allied Services. If proved not to be "Australian" their names will not be removed from the Commemorative Roll however their details will be updated accordingly.

    I have researched the Air Force members but there are many more Land and Sea deaths in a myriad of different forces.

    There is not a lot of information on these people that can be accessed easily and I ask your assistance to fill in at least some of the gaps.

    Hopefully some relatives may see this thread and add more.

    I will make a different thread for each along the way as they may tend to get lost if clumped together.

    In Memory of
    Lieutenant Colonel FRANK ALBERT JOHN WORTHINGTON HUNTER

    EC/6335, Cdg. 9th Bn., 8th Punjab Regiment
    who died
    on 04 August 1945

    Remembered with honour
    CALCUTTA (BHOWANIPORE) CEMETERY, KOLKATA


    I have added the third christian name here as it is listed on his OBE award.


    Maybe Drew might be able to extract some info on him!

    Hunter_Frank Albert John Worthington.jpg
     
  2. Assam

    Assam Senior Member

    Geoff,

    This is probably a case of an opportunity presenting itself as the Battn was wartime raised in May 1941. It was disbanded in '46 & merged to become the 1/8 Punjab, and of course he would not have been given a choice of appopintments it would have been "you are going there". Enlisted 5th june 1940. Discharged from the AIF August 1941 so it fits in with the raising of the 9thBn.

    B883NX28623HUNTER FRANK ALBERT JOHN : Service Number - NX28623 : Date of birth - 26 Jan 1913 : Place of birth - SYDNEY NSW : Place of enlistment - PADDINGTON NSW : Next of Kin - HUNTER PHYLLIS
    Access status: Not yet examined
    Location: Canberra


    1939 - 1948 4892672

    Your man was also MID & link to LG attached

    Viewing Page 1822 of Issue 37015

    I have a group to a kiwi with memorial cross with a commision in the British Army & was attached to 15th Punjab at time of death so not restricted to Australia, but I must admit to command a Bn is pretty good stuff.

    Regards

    Simon
     
  3. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Seeing as how the nominal roll (ww2roll) shows that he was discharged in August 1941 as a Private from the 2/18th Battalion, I thought I would have a trawl through the unit’s war diaries.

    I was hoping for some info on how he left the unit but after going back a few months (and a few hundred pages) all I found was the notification in Routine Orders of June 1941 of his promotion to Staff Sergeant (from acting rank) backdated to February.

    This didn’t help too much in working out why he ended up in the British (Indian) Army. However, after a bit of experimentation I got a newspaper article hit covering his graduation from an officer training school in August 1941.

    By the looks of it promising types (he was a substantive SSGT within a year of enlisting - in a unit that had not seen combat at the time) were sent to the school. As he intended taking his commission in the Indian Army he was discharged from the AIF as a Private at the same time as the course finished.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Assam

    Assam Senior Member

    Well, had an MC also, nice group there.

    Regards

    simon
     
  5. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Seeing as how the nominal roll (ww2roll) shows that he was discharged in August 1941 as a Private from the 2/18th Battalion, I thought I would have a trawl through the unit’s war diaries.

    I was hoping for some info on how he left the unit but after going back a few months (and a few hundred pages) all I found was the notification in Routine Orders of June 1941 of his promotion to Staff Sergeant (from acting rank) backdated to February.

    This didn’t help too much in working out why he ended up in the British (Indian) Army. However, after a bit of experimentation I got a newspaper article hit covering his graduation from an officer training school in August 1941.

    By the looks of it promising types (he was a substantive SSGT within a year of enlisting - in a unit that had not seen combat at the time) were sent to the school. As he intended taking his commission in the Indian Army he was discharged from the AIF as a Private at the same time as the course finished.

    Thanks Dave,

    The obit states MBE but is an OBE. (Edit: Is a MBE) Did not see anything on the MC and the MiD.

    Would the MC normally be mentioned in his CWGC listing?

    How do we confirm the MC and MiD?

    Great info.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  6. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    2nd Lieut, W/S Capt (T/Major) Frank Albert John Worthington Hunter
    EC6335
    8th Punjab Regiment

    Recommended for M.B.E

    Major F.A.J.W. Hunter has been Bde Major of this Bde* since 8 August '43., during which time he has rendered signal service to the Bde.

    In everything he has undertaken he has displayed drive determination and enthusiasm above the average which has had its effect on all who have worked with him.

    In action his cheerfulness confidence and esprit de corps have been an inspiration to all and have contributed in large measure to the fine fighting spirit displayed by the Bns.

    Both in action and out he has taken every opportunity to visit the units of the Bde Gp which has done much to cultivate the team spirit.

    I consider his services to the Bde have been outstanding to such a degree as to merit special recognition.
    LG 28.06.45.

    * 36th Indian Brigade, 26th Indian Division.
    On the recommendation under "Previous Awards" it's noted that he was MiD on 05.04.45.
     
  7. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    2nd Lieut, W/S Capt (T/Major) Frank Albert John Worthington Hunter
    EC6335
    8th Punjab Regiment

    Recommended for M.B.E

    LG 28.06.45.

    * 36th Indian Brigade, 26th Indian Division.
    On the recommendation under "Previous Awards" it's noted that he was MiD on 05.04.45.


    Thanks Sol,

    Went back to my initial post and saw I misread the award and it is a Member not an Officer.

    Have you noticed anything on the MC? I could not find any reference to it.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  8. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Have you noticed anything on the MC? I could not find any reference to it.


    Sorry Geoff but I couldn't find anything neither on TNA or London Gazette site.
     

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