223262 2nd Lieutenant Leslie George Richard Hunt, 1913-19/1/1943.

The friends of our respected townswoman, Mrs A. J. Miller, and the public in general, will have the deepest sympathy with her, over the death of her son, 2nd Lieut. Leslie George Richard Hunt, who died in the Japanese prison camp "Fukuoka", on 19th January last, the sad news only reaching his mother on Friday last. Born at Salisbury, Whiltshire, England, in 1913, he came to Alexandra at the age of seven years and received his education at the local Primary and District High schools, later attending the Otago University and graduating as a mining engineer. About six years ago, he went to Siam under engagement to the Engineering firm of "David" Ltd., Singapore, and was there when the city fell to the Japanese. "Les", as he was known to his many friends, was a splendid type of both boy and man, highly respected and esteemed for his upright principles and genial temperament. As a Boy Scout and Sunday School Teacher, to say nothing of his prowess in the field of sport, he leaves a record to be envied.  -Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 29/9/1943.

The story of Leslie Hunt's death was a sad one, of course.  But there is much more to Leslie Hunt's story than was reported at the time - or, possibly, ever.  Leslie Hunt was a spy. Officially gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the British Army, he was in fact a member of Winston Churchill's Special Operations Executive - one of three on the records of the Auckland Museum's Online Cenotaph.

His online presence is an elusive one.  What I have been able to find includes his name on the list of prisoners transported to Japan from Singapore in late 1942 in the Singapore Maru.  It was a "hell ship." Of the 1100 prisoners carried, 108 died from the conditions they experienced - either while at sea or afterwards.  Leslie Hunt was one of those who died, of gangrenous tonsilitis and erysipelas, after reaching Japan. Erysipales is a skin disease, caused by a streptococcus bacteria, which is often the result of uncovered cuts or abrasions. He died and was buried at Ohama POW camp, near Hiroshima.  After the war his ashes were taken to New Zealand and buried at Andersons Bay Cemetery.

What I have not been able to find is his name on a list of Special Operations Executive operatives, except for a reference in the British National Archives websitec c c c c c c c c c *

- - his file was made public in 2006.  But seeing it will have to wait until I next (if ever) go to London.

Andersons Bay Cemetery.  Petty Officer Hunt is Leslie's father, who died at the Nuggets lighthouse.

MRS GEORGE HUNT and Family wish to extend their Greatest Thanks to Dr Scrymgeour, nurses, and staff of the Dunedin Hospital, Mrs Macfie, the officers and members of Lodge Otago, R.A.O.B., and her many friends of the Nuggets lighthouse for their great kindness and attention to her late husband, George Hunt, during his illness, and for their kind help and sympathy in her great and sad bereavement.   -Otago Daily Times, 6/10/1923.