Walter Bunting MM

Private

Northumberland Fusiliers 37554, 5054 26th Battalion (11 Res)
Machine Gun Corps 178828 11th Reserve Battalion

Lea Mills postcard

Walter Bunting in WW1

Notes
Walter Bunting joined the forces on 31st March 1916 aged thirty.
He sailed for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in mid 1916 and was invalided from the B.E.F. in October 1916. He returned to duties and sailed again in December 1916 as part of the 26 Northumberland Fusiliers, 31 APO, Section 17, B.E.F.

Medal Index Card
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
Entitled to "The Emblem" 28/01/20 EM 2/218
16/North'n Fus 37544
M.G.C. 11 (Res) 178828

Awarded the Military Medal

Army Service Record
Attested 01/04/16 at Derby aged 28 years, an unmarried hosiery hand of Leawood Tunnel . He was C of E, 5ft 5¼in weighing 142lb. Next of kin his mother Jane Bunting of Leawood Tunnel
Awarded Military Medal for bravery in the Field of France Authy London Gazette 17/12/17. There is a note that for a time he was Missing in the Field; also he had several hospitalizations for illnesses including German Measles
31/03/16 to 28/07/16 Home; joined at Bakewell
29/07/16 Expeditionary Force France
14/06/17 I hereby acknowledge receipt of the MM and declare that in the event of it being lost, stolen or destroyed no replacing will be made against the public. Signed W Bunting
16/08/19 to 29/08/19 Military Hospital Cork
01/02/20 Dispersed from Unit
02/02/20 Walter Bunting; Private 178828 of 11th Res Btn MGC born 1888; Theatre of War – Irish

PoW Record
Bunting Walter: Pte 37544, Northumbeland Fusiliers C Coy, 10 Platoon, Missing since 27/5/18 France. Rep: Mrs W Bunting Lea Wood Tunnel, Lea Bridge, Nr Matlock

Repatriated to Hull on ss Archangel, 22 Nov 37544 Pte Bunting W. 4/Nothumberland Fusiliers.

Newspaper report

Derbyshire Times, Saturday, November 10, 1917
Pte W Bunting, Holloway
Walter Bunting newspaper WW1Pte Walter Bunting, son of Mr and Mrs William Bunting, Lea Wood, enlisted at the end of March 1916, and after completing his training he was attached to the Northumberland Fusiliers, and went to France in July 1916. Pte Bunting was here on leave a few weeks back, and in writing home on October 25 he says: – "You will be surprised to hear I have won the Military Medal. I won it three days after I left home after being on leave I should have told you before but I was only recommended then. It came through Orders last Sunday. The Adjutant sent from me and told me I had won the Medal and that the Brigadier had sent his congratulations. I got back to the transport lines on Wednesday night, got up to the front line trenches on Thursday night. We had a wiring party out in from our trenches and one of the corporals got wounded in the back. The officer in charge sent some of his men out but they could not find him. The next morning we saw him on the top about 20 yards off the German trench so feeling in good form I crept out from shell hole to shell hole and fetched him in, and the captain took my name. It was broad daylight 10:30 in the morning. I think Fritz must have been asleep."
Congratulations from Lea and Holloway to Pte Bunting.

Derbyshire Courier, 7 December 1918
CRICH, LEA, & HOLLOWAY
Privates Walter Bunting, of Lea Wood, and Private Sam Broomhead, of Holloway, who have been prisoners in Germany have arrived home.

Letters to JB Marsden-Smedley

[LETTER HEADING ‘SCOTTISH CHURCHES HUTS’]
(37544) 26th ?N Fus, 31st ?I B D, F P O Sec 17, B E F, France
Dec 16th
Dear Sir
Many thanks for your parcel which I received today none of the things were spoilt me and my pal has had a good tea with it this afternoon. I am now out of hospital and at the base waiting my turn to go up the line again I have been in some hot corners no doubt you will guess where, I have had a lot of my pals fallen but I seem to have a lucky number I don’t know how long the war is going to last but I think it will be a draw will now close.
Yours truly
W Bunting

[FIELD SERVICE PC FRANKED 10TH JAN 17[
I am quite well
Received your parcel on dated 14th Dec
Letter follows at first opportunity
W Bunting
Jan 8th

[FIELD SERVICE P/C DATE STAMP 6 SEP 17 ADDRESSED TO JB M-S AT LEA GREEN]
I am quite well
I received your parcel Aug 22nd
Letter follows at first opportunity
W Bunting
Sep 6th

[FIELD SERVICE P/C DATE STAMP 21 DEC 17 ADDRESSED TO JBM-S AT LEA MILL ]
I am quite well
I received your parcel Dec10th
Letter follows at first opportunity
W Bunting
Dec 19th


CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Holloway

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
William Bunting Head 49 Farm labourer Bonsall
Jane Bunting wife 46   Holloway
Blanch Bunting daughter 19 Merino hosiery machinist Holloway
Beatrice Bunting daughter 15 Merino hosiery machinist Holloway
Walter Bunting son 13 Telegraph messenger Holloway
May Bunting daughter 8   Holloway
Florence Bunting daughter 4   Holloway

RG13 piece 3235 folio 64 page 15

1911: Lea Wood Tunnel

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
William Bunting Head 59 Gardener domestic Bonsall
Beatrice Bunting daughter 25 Machinist sewing hosiery works Holloway
Walter Bunting son 23 Frame knitter hosiery works Holloway
Gertrude May Bunting daughter 18 Domestic Holloway
Eric Esmond Bunting son 4   Holloway
Walter Stone boarder 53 Gritsone quarryman Winster

RG14PN21013 RG78PN1253 RD436 SD6 ED11 SN157