WWI Stories – Leslie Anderson Hunter
Ballarat
Kathleen Hunter shares the story of her grandfather Leslie Anderson Hunter.
LESLIE ANDERSON HUNTER b 23-03-1892 d. 17-09-1978.
The second eldest son of 11 children, my grandfather was born to John and Alice Hunter in Ballarat in 1896. His father was a policeman, and when Leslie turned 16, he was sent off with his 17 year old brother to become men. My great-grandfather gave each boy a pound note, a pound of sugar, flour and tea, a horse, a pipe and a pouch of tobacco. This was in 1912 and the two boys travelled north into the country and used their two pounds to buy and break in young horses, taking them back to Geelong to sell. When the Great War was declared, three Hunter brothers enlisted on 17th of September 1914 at Broadmeadows in Melbourne, joining the tide of young, patriotic men eager to serve their country. He was a Driver in the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column, utilising his horse skills. His number was 1403, showing they were among the first 1500 to enlist in Melbourne.
