| Hunt | George Percy Edward | | Lieutenant | HUNT, GEORGE PERCY EDWARD, Lieutenant, Royal Navy, was born 15 April, 1863, at Shooling, Southampton, son of George Jenkins Hunt and Mary Hooper. He was educated in the Conway, and left the Mercantile Marine to join the Royal Navy as a Supplementary Lieutenant in October 1895. As a Lieutenant in the Forte he served with distinction with the Naval Brigade in South Africa in 1900, with the two 4.7 guns which did such excellent work. Captain Jones (HMS Forte), in his report, said: “Lieutenant Hunt has acted as Brigade-Major, Quartermaster, Chief of my Staff, all rolled into one, as well as commanding a 4.7 gun after being up the greater part of the night with paper work, after long fatiguing days. His services have been invaluable to me". Lieutenant Hunt was mentioned three times in Despatches, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 6 November 1900]: "George Percy Edward Hunt, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. In recognition of services during the war in South Africa". The Insignia, Warrant and Statutes were sent to the Admiralty, and presented by the Governor of the Gambia on board HMS Forte (Admiralty, 23 July 1901). In 1901 Lieutenant Hunt took command of a Naval Brigade landed at Attwaboe, West Africa, for the purpose of capturing 150 mutineers of the West African Regiment. He was promoted to Commander in January 1902, and in the same year served in the Gambia Expedition. On 28 March, 1905, at Wheathampstead, Herts, Commander Hunt married Cecilia Teresa Clementi, third daughter of Right Honourable Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, PC, GCMG He became Captain in June, 1907. In February 1908, Captain Hunt received a letter of commendation from the Lords of the Admiralty for the good result obtained by HMS Prince George in the Annual Test of Gun-layers for 1907. He retired from the Service in July 1913, at the age of fifty, but returned to serve again in August 1914. He was in charge of fitting out merchant cruisers on the Thames, August and September 1914, and their Lordships expressed their appreciation of his services. He was Assistant Captain of HM Dockyard at Devonport at the time of his death, which took place on the 22nd August 1917. He was buried at Almeley on the 25th August 1917. During three years of service in Devonport Dockyard, their Lordships expressed their appreciation of his work in salving vessels on several occasions.
Africa GSM (1) Gambia (Cdr DSO, RN). Spinks 1976 £95.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Navy |
