Roger Victor Cecil HUNT (1895-1918)

Roger Victor Cecil Hunt (1895-1918) was the grandson of a former Vicar of Badsey, the Reverend Thomas Hunt.  The Sladdens kept in contact with the Hunt family following Reverend Hunt’s death and, in a letter of 26^th November 1915, Ethel Sladden gave news to her mother about the younger members of the Hunt family.

Roger was born at Petersham, Surrey, on 30^th May 1895, the eldest of three sons of Thomas Charles Hunt (known as Charles) and his wife, Mabel Louise.  Roger was the only grandchild that Reverend Hunt knew, as he died the following year when Roger was just over a year old.

Roger’s father was a captain in the army, the King’s Own Regiment.  At the time of the 1901 census, Charles was serving away from home and Mabel was living with her three sons at Boreatton Hall, Baschurch, Somerset.  The family had let out nearby Ruyton Park which had been the home of Charles’ father, so they were staying at Boreatton which was owned by Charles’ cousin, Rowland, and had been the family home of the Hunt family since around 1700.

In 1911, 15-year-old Roger was a naval cadet at Dartmouth.  He served as a midshipman and Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Navy from 1913-1916 when he was invalided.  His health restored, he volunteered for active service with the Royal Field Artillery.  He was killed in action on 1^st October 1918.  Roger is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.  His name is recorded on the Baschurch War Memorial in Shropshire.