The brothers Hunter

David D, our volunteer who researches the Royal Naval Division (RND), had posted the story of Peter Hunter, who grew up in Oxhill, with four sisters and six brothers. Peter died on 20 October 1915, serving as an able seaman in the Dardanelles, due to complications following a gunshot wound to his right buttock. Peter is buried in East Mudros Cemetery, Island of Lemnos, Greece. After the post had gone up, we were contacted by a family member to say that two of his brothers also died during the war, Vender and Ernest. David went on to research their service. 

D/DLI 7/913/321 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry insignia

They enlisted together in Stanley on 8 September 1914 and were posted to 12th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (DLI), to serve as privates. Their service numbers were 18507 and 18509. They went to France in August 1915, and by January 1916, they were in trenches near Armentieres. On 26 January, they were in a dugout with three other men when a German shell landed on the roof, killing all of them. The brothers who had enlisted together, died together, and they are buried side by side in X Farm Cemetery, La Chapelle D’Armentieres.

All three brothers are remembered locally in the Book of Remembrance 1914-18, St Andrew’s Church, Stanley. You can read David’s research on Durham at War.

Peter http://www.durhamatwar.org.uk/story/13216/
Ernest http://www.durhamatwar.org.uk/story/14041/
Vender http://www.durhamatwar.org.uk/story/14042/

We also found that on Good Friday [21 April] 1916, a football match was played in their honour at Derwent Park, Annfield Plain (were the local team still play). The following are extracts from the report of the match in the Stanley News of 27 April 1916. http://www.durhamatwar.org.uk/material/734/

The teams were:-

Annfield Plain: Thompson, Williamson (Sunderland), Coyle, Nichol, Hopkins (Sunderland), Pulman, Mabon, Cockburn, Rackham, Gailes, and Wilson

West Stanley: Pounder, Johnson, Pomeroy, Gemmell, Pounder, Akers, Soulsby, Harrison, Brown (White-le-Head), Briggs, and Wearmouth

Referee: Mr Rob Bell

Annfield Plain and West Stanley met on Good Friday at Derwent Park, Annfield Plain, for the benefit of the widows and families of the later brothers Hunter, of Oxhill, who have fallen in the war. A large crowd lined the ropes, and the pitch was in splendid condition in spite of rain, when Mr James Hosking, of Annfield Plain, kicked off.

Stanley rushed away, but Williamson quickly returned, and Akers checked Cockburn and Mabon. Hopkins set the home left going, and GAILES, with a fine left foot effort, opened the homesters’ scoring account.

…during an attack by Stanley, WEARMOUTH equalised after Thompson had once cleared his lines. Brown got through again, and his final shot was just wide of the mark.

Rackham centred from the touch line right in front of Pounder’s charge, and MABON, who was on the spot, promptly sent into the net, the Stanleyites alleging the ball had been out of play. Pulman deceived several players by tricky play and gave Rackham possession, that player’s shot causing Pounder to double up, and in doing so he almost crossed the line. At the other end, Gemmell was instrumental in providing Brown with an opening but the centre’s long shot was smartly tipped over the bar by the home keeper, half time being whistled before the corner kick could be taken.

On the restart Coyle pulled up Briggs, and as Cockburn was making tracks he was given offside. Coyle nearly let his side down by taking too much time in clearing and Harrison was able to get away, but his cross to Brown was sent wide.

Thompson made two successive clearances and then Coyle committed a breach of the rules by fouling Briggs in the penalty area. BRIGGS took the kick and equalised the scores again. Shortly after, BROWN gave his side the lead. Williamson missed a dropping ball, and the centre forward made no mistake this time.

The homesters made efforts to equalise, and Gailes put in a long shot which struck the crossbar and rebounded into play. Thompson was called upon twice to save and then clever play was witnessed between Gailes, Wilson, and Rackham, after which GAILES added a third goal and his second of the match. The scores were again level and both sides strove for the mastery, but time was against them and a draw of three each was a fair reflex of the game.